Internews in Kyrgyzstan’s Bilim Aitysh project in cooperation with the Kyrgyz National Theater “Manas” held the premiere private screening of the musical, dramatic, and poetic performance “Taitoru” on the stage of the National Kyrgyz Drama Theater named after Sultan Ibraimov in Osh.
“Taitoru” is a performance representing the result of educational and creative laboratories organized for manaschy during the year within the framework of the “Bilim Aitysh” project.
A fragment of the epic “Semetei” about participation in the Kanykei race with the horse Taitoru is staged for the first time.
The best masters of theater, music and design of Kyrgyzstan were involved in the production of the play.
The Country Director of the Internews representative office in Kyrgyzstan Nazik Chekirova noted after the screening:
“First of all, I would like to express my respect to the cast of the production “Taitoru”. It was a sight that brought tears to my eyes, they looked at it in one breath.
We worked for less than a year with these six little manaschy, who created the image of Semetei, to improve their acting skills, and today our children can show excellent results. All of them are participants in the training program within the framework of the Bilim Aitysh project.
I believe that “Taitoru” will become a performance that will remain in history and bring us positive changes.”
State Secretary of the Kyrgyz Republic Suyunbek Kasmambetov shared his impressions after the performance:
“The public witnessed a new phenomenon, a piece of special news was that the legend of Taitoru was staged as a play and drama with the participation of young manaschi. I am glad that the small theater “Manas” team has traveled all over Kyrgyzstan.
When you watch such a performance without microphones, from a close distance, you are getting a powerful impression. That is why we need to spread this approach, which can be used for other stories from the epic “Manas”, and convey it understandably to schoolchildren and ordinary people.
Today we are excited to celebrate this important event, and I would like to wish the success of the small creative team.”
Asylkan Mamatova, Osh:
“Each scene of the play warmed the audience’s hearts and awakened patriotic feelings. The vocal accompaniment of the manaschi, the reflection of the hope and aspiration of Kanykey, young teenagers conveying the image of Semetei, the expression of love for the Motherland in the epic – everything was prepared at a high level. How thrilling! I was even happier when I heard that this performance would now be shown in the districts.
I hope the play will deeply evoke empathy among the audience. Will leave a special impression, and most importantly, I believe that the lessons of great history will be learned by a wide audience.”
The director is Shamil Dyikanbayev, the founder of the theater studio “Muroktun suusu”, the director of the Chui Regional Theater. A talented director who has won awards at several international festivals, the director of the play “Uluu Bayan” based on “Manas”.
The script was developed by manaschys, Honored Artist of the Kyrgyz Republic Samat Kochorbaev and Kulmat Sydykov.
The cast:
Kanykei (wife of Manas, mother of Semetei) – Ainur Akylbekova, actress of the Theater of Youth and Young Spectators (Youth Theater).
Temirkan (Kanykey’s father) is Azat Baibekov, an actor of the puppet theater and the Manas theater.
Ismail (Kanykey’s brother) – Talgar Anarbekov, actor of the Manas Theater.
Manaschi – Samat Kochorbayev, Kulmat Sydykov, Akkyz Abasbekova.
Participants of the educational program of the project “Bilim Aitysh”, 12-14-year-old young manaschy: Ularbek Mirlanov, Arsen Ydyrysov, Kassymbek Berdikulov, Ariet Tynchtykbekov, Said Zholochiev, Uzarbek Anarbayev perform in the image of Semetey.
AKYNS – Akmatbek Sultanov, Kutman Sadybakasov.
Music director and sound design by:
Emilbek Ishenbek uulu is a musician of the group “El Akyny Estebes” of the Kyrgyz National Philharmonic, a laureate of several international competitions, the author of the songs “Ala Toonun uulumun”, “Kylan”, “Cheksizdik”, “Kambarkan”.
Kambar Kalendov is a composer, multi-instrumentalist, head of the Urkor group, artistic director of the Kyrgyz Kairyk folklore ensemble, laureate and winner of several international festivals.
Scenery and scenography – artist of the Kyrgyz Drama Theater Ruslan Dzhunusaliyev.
Costume design:
Janysh Botoy is a designer, one of the founders of Ormon Branding, Cerebro Branding, Cinemart Production, and Kronos Studio.
Aidai Asangulova – the Kiyiz Duino Foundation owner, one of the few in Kyrgyzstan who teaches people ancient traditional applied art.
Gulsana Atomkulova is a bearer of traditional knowledge, designer, and technologist.
In 2023, a group of manaschi from the National Theater “Manas” turned to Internews in Kyrgyzstan for support. They got an opportunity to learn mobilography and promote their creativity as original content on social networks.
Internews in Kyrgyzstan consider it its duty to widely disseminate the unshakable universal values laid down in this great and phenomenal legend of the Kyrgyz people as “Manas”.
We want the production to be accessible to a wide audience throughout the country and we encourage interested parties to help organize screenings.
In Bishkek, the play is planned to be shown in October, it will be held at the Kyrgyz National Theater “Manas”.
For full information about the play “Taitoru”, see this link.
“Taitoru” was created as part of Internews’ Media-K project in Kyrgyzstan and thanks to the assistance of the American people through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
