Romen Theatre
Encyclopedia
Romen Theatre is the oldest and the most famous of Romani theatres in the world. The theatre is a key object of Romani culture in Russia
, and from the moment of its foundation in 1931, it has been a centre of attraction for Romani artist
s in Russia.
es of Ruska Roma
existed in Moscow
and Saint Petersburg
.
At the end of the 19th century, a conductor of one of Romani choruses, Nikolai Shishkin created the first ever Romani theatre troupe. The first appearance of the troupe was in the operetta
Gypsy Songs in Faces , with the main troupe of Arcadia Theatre. This was in 1886. The operetta ran for several years. On 13 April 1887 the first performance of Strauss
's operetta The Gypsy Baron
with Roma (Shishkin's troupe) playing the roles of Roma took place in the Maly Theatre
.
On 20 March 1888 the premiere
of the very first Romani language
operetta Children of the Forests was staged in the Maly Theatre. It was performed solely by the Romani troupe. The production ran for 18 years and was a great success.
In 1892, Shishkin produced a new operetta, Gypsy Life.
In the 1920s, many Romani ensembles of singers, dancers and musician
s performed in the USSR.
. Within a month, the studio performed its first work.
The first director and the first music composer of "Indo-Romen" were Jewish activists, Moishe Goldblat and Semen Bugachevsky.
On 16 December 1931 the studio showed its first full musical-dramathic performance Life on Wheels . It consisted of three acts and was based on a play by Romani author Alexandr Germano. After that performance, the studio was renamed the Romen Theatre. The first theatre director was Georgy Lebedev (a Rusko Rom
).
Since 1940, the theatre does all its performances in Russian
.
The current theatre director (2008) is Nikolai Slichenko
, a Romani actor famous in Russia.
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, and from the moment of its foundation in 1931, it has been a centre of attraction for Romani artist
Artist
An artist is a person engaged in one or more of any of a broad spectrum of activities related to creating art, practicing the arts and/or demonstrating an art. The common usage in both everyday speech and academic discourse is a practitioner in the visual arts only...
s in Russia.
Forerunners of Romen Theatre
In the 18th and 19th centuries, chorusChoir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
es of Ruska Roma
Ruska Roma
The Ruska Roma , also known as Russian Gypsies , are a subgroup of Romani people, the biggest Romani group of Russia. Initially were known as Xaladitka Roma...
existed in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
and Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg
Saint Petersburg is a city and a federal subject of Russia located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland on the Baltic Sea...
.
At the end of the 19th century, a conductor of one of Romani choruses, Nikolai Shishkin created the first ever Romani theatre troupe. The first appearance of the troupe was in the operetta
Operetta
Operetta is a genre of light opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter. It is also closely related, in English-language works, to forms of musical theatre.-Origins:...
Gypsy Songs in Faces , with the main troupe of Arcadia Theatre. This was in 1886. The operetta ran for several years. On 13 April 1887 the first performance of Strauss
Johann Strauss II
Johann Strauss II , also known as Johann Baptist Strauss or Johann Strauss, Jr., the Younger, or the Son , was an Austrian composer of light music, particularly dance music and operettas. He composed over 500 waltzes, polkas, quadrilles, and other types of dance music, as well as several operettas...
's operetta The Gypsy Baron
The Gypsy Baron
The Gypsy Baron is an operetta in three acts by Johann Strauss II which premiered at the Theater an der Wien on 24 October 1885. Its libretto was by the author Ignaz Schnitzer and in turn was based on Sáffi by Mór Jókai. During the composer's lifetime, the operetta enjoyed great success, second...
with Roma (Shishkin's troupe) playing the roles of Roma took place in the Maly Theatre
Maly Theatre (Moscow)
Maly Theatre is a drama theater in Moscow, Russia. Established in 1806 and operating on its present site on the Theatre Square since 1824, the theatre traces its history to the Moscow University drama company, established in 1756...
.
On 20 March 1888 the premiere
Premiere
A premiere is generally "a first performance". This can refer to plays, films, television programs, operas, symphonies, ballets and so on. Premieres for theatrical, musical and other cultural presentations can become extravagant affairs, attracting large numbers of socialites and much media...
of the very first Romani language
Romani language
Romani or Romany, Gypsy or Gipsy is any of several languages of the Romani people. They are Indic, sometimes classified in the "Central" or "Northwestern" zone, and sometimes treated as a branch of their own....
operetta Children of the Forests was staged in the Maly Theatre. It was performed solely by the Romani troupe. The production ran for 18 years and was a great success.
In 1892, Shishkin produced a new operetta, Gypsy Life.
In the 1920s, many Romani ensembles of singers, dancers and musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
s performed in the USSR.
Theatre history
On 24 January 1931 the Romani theatre studio "Indo-Romen" opened in MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. Within a month, the studio performed its first work.
The first director and the first music composer of "Indo-Romen" were Jewish activists, Moishe Goldblat and Semen Bugachevsky.
On 16 December 1931 the studio showed its first full musical-dramathic performance Life on Wheels . It consisted of three acts and was based on a play by Romani author Alexandr Germano. After that performance, the studio was renamed the Romen Theatre. The first theatre director was Georgy Lebedev (a Rusko Rom
Ruska Roma
The Ruska Roma , also known as Russian Gypsies , are a subgroup of Romani people, the biggest Romani group of Russia. Initially were known as Xaladitka Roma...
).
Since 1940, the theatre does all its performances in Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
.
The current theatre director (2008) is Nikolai Slichenko
Nikolai Slichenko
Nikolai Alekseyevich Slichenko is a Russian singer and leader of the Moscow "Romen" Music and Drama Gypsy Theater...
, a Romani actor famous in Russia.
Selected notable figures associated with Romen Theatre
- Dmitry Buzylyov, actor, singer
- Vladislav Demeter, choirmaster, the creator of a Romani magazine Shunen Romale, activist, pedagogue
- Pyotr Demeter, actor, pedagogue
- Roza Dzhelakayeva, actress, singer, dancer
- Nikolai Erdenko, violinist, singer
- Alexandr Germano, poet, writer, dramatist
- Vano Hrustalyo, poet, dramatist, concertmaster
- Mikhail Ilyinsko, writer, actor
- Sasha KolpakovSasha KolpakovSacha Kolpakov . Coming from a "Servo" family, a group of Romani people found mostly in Russia and Ukraine, he started playing a seven string guitar at an early age while living in the region of Saratov...
, guitarist, vocalist, composer - Vadim Kolpakov, guitarist, vocalist, actor, dancer
- Ivan Rom-Lebedev, actor, writer
- Valentina PonomaryovaValentina Ponomaryova (singer)Valentina Dmitriyevna Ponomaryova , often also spelled Ponomareva, is a Russian singer, performer of romances and a jazz vocalist.-Biography:...
, actor, singer - Nikolai SlichenkoNikolai SlichenkoNikolai Alekseyevich Slichenko is a Russian singer and leader of the Moscow "Romen" Music and Drama Gypsy Theater...
, actor