Almetyevsk State Tatar Drama Theatre

“Almetyevsk State Drama Traveling Theater is almost the same age as the Tatar oil industry. It was organized in 1944. The theatre was formed on the basis of the House of Culture, where Nagima Davletshina worked as the director. Soon the first professional actress appeared – Nagima Kimova, who graduated from the theatre college. Then other actors arrived at the theatre, and the team was able to turn them into full-fledged dramatic works. The first such play was R. Ishmurat’s drama “Return”, which was staged by A. Galiev.

While the formation of the creative staff of the theatre was going on, it was necessary to turn more into one-act plays, both by modern authors and classics of Tatar dramaturgy. Considering that at that time there were no elementary stage means and in order to meet your audience you had to walk tens of kilometres, and even carry props and costumes, the enthusiasm of the actors, and their love for art is understandable. Gradually, traditions developed in which the upbringing of young actors took place. As a rule, those remained in the theatre whose acting abilities were combined with purposefulness, and the ability to overcome any difficulties.

In 1946, Kamal Khalyapov became the chief director of the theatre. The conditions of the travelling collective-farm-state-farm theatre left a certain imprint on the quality of productions, and on the creativity of the actors. This was one of the difficulties of the work, and another, no less difficult problem – the implementation of the financial plan.

The theatre was divided into three brigades, and each performed a certain performance. The entire troupe met only in those performances when wide canvases were staged dedicated to some solemn date. All this affected the appearance of the theatre, the play of actors, and their destinies. The main efforts of the theatre were aimed at creating a professional unified team, close and understandable to the viewer.

In the 1950s, Said Bulatov, a well-known figure in Tatar theatrical art, became the artistic director of the theatre. Being an educated person, with great practice in staging work, he put a lot of effort into team building and improving the professional skills of actors, and their theoretical level. But the theatre was still only on the outskirts of its fame. After the departure of S. Bulatov, the actors themselves took up staging work, sometimes inviting directors from Kazan and Ufa.

In 1963 Gabdulla Yusupov, a well-known director with great creative and life experience is appointed the chief director of the theatre. Over the four years of his work, he staged 17 performances of various genres and diverse characters, the theatre has changed beyond recognition. Under him, a studio was organized in the theatre, the graduates of which subsequently occupied a leading position in the theatre. Another great merit of director G. Yusupov lies in the fact that he looked into the future of the theatre, and managed to create conditions for artists who wanted to engage in production work. Already under him, Zakiya Tuisheva confidently declared herself. He attracted her to the director’s work, collaborating with her during rehearsals for performances. The artist Ramazan Ikhsanov also tries his hand at directing. So, in the mid-sixties, the theatre began to gain creative heights.

But real recognition came when director Gali Khusainov joined the team. Restless and greedy for creativity, demanding in everything, director Gali Khusainov literally infected the theatre with his ability to work, obsession, and love for the theatre. The microclimate in the theatre has improved, and the creative environment has become on a par with large creative teams. The cast has become stable. The foundation of the theatre, laid by the first actors, directors S. Bulatov and S. Yusupov, became a solid foundation for building a real centre of culture. The popularity of the theatre began to grow from year to year. The plays staged by him brought the theatre to new frontiers and marked the creative maturity of the team.

R. Abdullayev became the main director in 1983. and up to 1987 heads the theatre. During this time, there were separate interesting performances, but they did not become the pinnacle that would determine the creative search for the theatre. But, despite the possible difficulties, the actors who are in love with their work, in their offspring – the theatre, do not leave.

In March 1989, the Almetyevsk Council of People’s Deputies and the Tatneftegazstroy Association made a joyful decision for the actors to transfer the House of Technology to the Almetyevsk Theater. This happened 45 years after his birth.

The beginning of the 1990s was a difficult time for the theatre. We turned to Zakiya Tuisheva. She again plunged into the stage world and managed to rally the team around her. At the republican theatre festivals named after K. Tinchurin, the theatre from year to year presented new, interesting productions by Z. Tuisheva.

From 1995 to 2002 Tamara Suleymanovna Khalitova directed the theatre. The persistent, purposeful work of the director led to the fact that the theatre participated in various festivals.

In 1997, Kamil Valeev, who came to the theatre in 1964, was appointed chief director. K.Valeev always generously shared his rich stage experience with other artists and staged performances where the exciting problems of the time were sharply raised. The great merit of the chief director K. Valeev lies in the fact that looking into the future of the theatre, he collaborates with other directors – Ildar Khairullin, Fail Ibragimov, Bairas Ibragimov, and
Farit Bikchantaev. They never embarrassed each other, they managed to preserve the traditions based on the realistic and psychological school of theatrical art.

In February 2005, Ismagilova Farida, a person of inexhaustible enthusiasm and excellent organizational skills, became the new director of the theatre. And soon the troupe is headed by director Ilyas Sakhipgareevich Gareev. And the theatre began to change rapidly. The transformation of the theatre into a real temple of art took place after a major overhaul at the expense of OAO TATNEFT thanks to the initiative of General Director Takhautdinov Sh.F. And now this cosy, beautiful theatrical building has the necessary hall, dressing rooms, and office space.

Today, the Almetyevsk Theater continues to develop those creative principles that determined its activities in previous years, actively develops and strengthens interregional and international ties, collaborates with famous directors and artists, and produces 7-8 premiere productions annually, develops and implements new creative projects”.