Fourteen young actors from 10 countries gathered in Moscow to study Russian theatrical traditions and explore the global influence of Russian drama at a thematic lecture-presentation held at the BRICS+ Information and Cultural Media Centre.
The participants—trainees of the InteRussia programme at the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (GITIS)—represent Argentina, Brazil, Germany, India, Egypt, Türkiye, South Africa, Malaysia, China, and Ethiopia. The event took place at the media centre, based at the M. I. Rudomino All-Russia State Library for Foreign Literature, where the actors examined collections of works by Russian authors available in Russian and in translation.
Ivan Rybaulin, Director of the Centre for Cultural and Educational Programmes at the library, presented on the most significant Russian playwrights, their works, and the role of Russian drama in global culture. Zarina Agliullina, TV BRICS International Projects Manager, delivered a welcoming address, stating that the media centre serves as an industry platform for shaping and developing the international humanitarian agenda and bringing together expert communities from BRICS+ countries across culture, arts, science, education, youth policy, and sports.
The creative agenda included readings of works in the trainees’ native languages, concluding with a performance by Egyptian actor Amr Afify, who delivered a monologue from a poem by an Egyptian author.
Commenting on the shared traditions between Indian and Russian stage performance, Indian actress Ponnappa Diya told TV BRICS: “One main similarity that I see is that it’s very spiritual in nature. […] What allows a person to reach their highest ability, their highest potential, is something that we use theatre as a tool to achieve. That is a very strong similarity between both countries and their theatrical traditions.”
South African participant Jack Paine noted that discovering Russian classics had broadened his perspective, describing literature as the foundation of acting.
“I can see a lot of the influences from the Russian classics that are present in modern culture today. It is certainly something that has broadened my perspective and opened my mind,” Paine said. “I think the unique thing about literature and books is that we often get to see the inner life of the character – not just what is happening outside, but also what is happening inside their mind. […] Once you start to understand the inner monologue of the character, that is when it truly comes to life. That is when it becomes multi-dimensional.”
The InteRussia international fellowship programme, titled “Professional Training for Drama and Film Actors”, runs from 24 August to 3 October. The programme is organised by GITIS together with the Gorchakov Public Diplomacy Fund, the TV BRICS International Media Network, and ANO “Mezhdunarodniki”. The fellowship is held within the framework of Rossotrudnichestvo’s flagship initiative “New Generation” with the support of the Presidential Grants Foundation.
