Adyghe State University Opens First Interregional Student Theater Festival Named After Evgeny Schwartz

The opening ceremony of the first Interregional Student Theater Festival, named after Evgeny Schwartz and titled An Ordinary Miracle, took place at the Concert Hall of Adyghe State University in Maykop. More than 130 participants from 13 theater groups are taking part in the festival. They represent Astrakhan, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Saratov, Alchevsk in the Luhansk People’s Republic, Kazan, Krasnodar, Nalchik, Sevastopol, and Maykop.

Adyghe State University is organizing the festival with support from the Russian Ministry of Education and Science and in partnership with the Schwartz House nonprofit organization. The event is part of the Year of Unity of the Peoples of Russia and marks the 130th anniversary of the birth of the celebrated playwright, who was born in Maykop.

“We place great importance on introducing young people to the theatrical arts. The festival aims to foster their interest in theater, and to support this goal, we are currently restructuring the work of our student theater, Art-Riton, to encourage more students to take part. Schwartz’s legacy is also central to the festival. Thanks to the Schwartz House Autonomous Non-Profit Organization and the support of the leadership of the Republic of Adygea, his name has become a hallmark of Adygea and Maikop. Adyghe State University has also made every effort to support this important event—the celebration of the 130th anniversary of Evgeny Schwartz’s birth. We believe this milestone should be commemorated with the dignity it deserves and in a way that resonates across the country,” said ASU Rector Daud Mamiy.

Olga Petrova, Deputy Minister of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation, welcomed the participants and guests in a video message. She thanked the university’s rector, Dauda Mamiya, for organizing the event and noted that the connections forged at the festival would undoubtedly become new catalysts for the teams’ growth.

“I hope this creative spirit and uplifting energy will permeate the entire festival. Once you are all energized, that momentum can continue to propel us forward—to grow and create a unique space of creative opportunity for students across our community of more than 300 student theaters. Students at 231 universities can be proud to be part of this movement. Above all, I hope more students will get involved in creative work, and that theater will become a place for self-expression and personal growth—one that moves and inspires its audiences,” said Olga Petrova.

On behalf of the Head of the Republic of Adygea, the participants were welcomed by Yuri Autlev, the republic’s Minister of Culture.

“I would like to wish all the teams every success. Yevgeny Shvarts called Maykop the birthplace of his soul, and I’m sure everyone who has come here will feel some of the warmth of our city and republic,” the republic’s Minister of Culture said.

The guest of honor, Yevgeny Schwartz's granddaughter , Maria Kryzhanovskaya, also thanked the festival participants and organizers . She admitted that the entire family had dreamed of such a festival.

"Of course, I can't replace my grandfather, but on behalf of my family, I want to express my deepest gratitude to all the participants, to all those who brought their performances, who love Schwartz's work, and to those who organized the festival. I always remember the lines from the famous play "The Dragon." When the townspeople bring Lancelot weapons, they say, 'Our grandfathers were waiting for you. Our fathers were waiting for you, and now we have finally arrived.' Well, in our family, everyone was waiting, of course. My grandfather could hardly have imagined this—in those years, even his plays were rarely performed by adults. My mother wanted the festival, and I've dreamed about it for many years, but what I see now exceeds my expectations. I really hope that this festival will become a regular event. I'm grateful to Adyghe State University, which organized it so wonderfully. I think student theaters are what Yevgeny Lvovich would have liked, and that's what I like ," said Maria Olegovna.

The ceremony opened with a prologue based on "Don Quixote," performed by the Art-Riton student theater at ASU and the Prostranstvo theater studio. Over the course of the week, student theaters from across the country will present plays, theatrical sketches, and literary and musical programs related to the life and work of Yevgeny Schwartz.

Among them:

• Youth Theatre "Alma Mater" of the Astrakhan State Medical University;

• ITMO University Theatre "Tomorrow"

• Student Theatre of the National Research University Higher School of Economics;

• Puppet and musical theater "Vivat-Collage" of Saratov State University; 

• Student theater "Podmostki" of the Astrakhan State University named after V.N. Tatishchev;

• People's student theater of miniatures "Brigantina" of the Donbass State Technical University;

• Creative laboratory "PROtheatre" of Kazan Federal University; 

• Educational theater "SHOK" of Kuban State University;

• Theatre studio "Time to Play" of the Saint Petersburg Electrotechnical University "LETI";

• Theatre studio "Chinara" of the Kabardino-Balkarian State Agrarian University;

• Theatre workshop "Hoffnar's Attic" of the Saint Petersburg State University o

• Architecture and Civil Engineering;

• workshop of the performance theater "Image" of Sevastopol State University;

• Theatre studio "Space" of Adyghe State University.

Audiences can look forward to fresh interpretations of familiar works, original productions, and engaging conversations that reflect the spirit of contemporary student theatre. The festival is non-competitive and does not award prizes or rankings. Its primary aim is to bring together young actors, directors, and creative group leaders, fostering professional dialogue, the exchange of experience, and a deeper appreciation of Russian cultural heritage. Alongside the performances, the program features master classes in stage speech, movement, and acting; excursions along the “Evgeny Schwartz’s Maikop” route; a visit to the Schwartz House; and meetings with the playwright’s granddaughter, Maria Kryzhanovskaya, and Schwartz scholar Elena Voskoboeva.

The festival is overseen by an expert council chaired by its founder, Timur Isupov, an Honored Artist of the Republic of Abkhazia. Isupov is director of the Art-Riton Student Theatre and the Prostranstvo Theatre Studio, and a lecturer at the Institute of Arts of Adyghe State University.

The expert council includes:

Yulia Prozorova, Deputy Head of the Department of Youth Policy and Educational Activities at the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation;

Elena Voskoboeva, lecturer, Candidate of Philological Sciences, researcher of Schwartz’s work, editor-in-chief and compiler of the ten-volume collection of his works, and academic editor at Petropolis Publishing House in St. Petersburg;

Svetlana Shkhalakhova, theatre critic, Honored Worker of Culture of the Republic of Adygea, and lecturer in theatre disciplines at the Umar Tkhabisimov Adyghe Republican College of Arts;

Fatima Tuguz, Honored Worker of Education of the Russian Federation and Honored Worker of Culture of the Republic of Adygea; Director of the Institute of Arts and adviser to the rector on cultural affairs at Adyghe State University;

Alexander Gennadyev, theatre and ballet critic, member of the expert council of the Golden Mask Russian National Theatre Award for the 2015–2016 season, member of the juries of Russian theatre festivals, and contributor to national publications;

Elena Goncharova, Head of the Department of Theatre Arts at the Krasnodar State Institute of Culture and member of the Union of Theatre Workers of Russia.

The festival concludes on October 23. The festival program is here.