Moscow Hosts Closing Ceremony of 7th BRICS International Festival of Theatre Schools

The International RUSSIA EXPO at the VDNH hosted the closing ceremony of the 7th BRICS International Festival of Theatre Schools, which was organized by the Institute of Theatre Arts named after People’s Artist of the USSR Iosif Kobzon.

The festival, which took place on 1–8 June 2024 with the support of the Presidential Grants Fund and the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was attended by representatives of theatre schools from Russia, India, Iran, China, UAE, South Africa, and Belarus.

Over the course of eight days, the artists performed their own versions of the production of Alexander Pushkin’s ‘The Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish’ on an open stage in their native language without any translation and with their own national flavour. This offered the exhibition guests an opportunity to learn more about the cultural features of BRICS countries and Belarus. The festival culminated with a major joint performance in the ‘Let’s Play Together!’ format with representatives of all of the countries that participated in the Festival joining in a single performance on one stage.

“For the last three years, we have been meeting online. And now we have met here, in Russia, in Moscow. We were joined by delegations from Iran and the United Arab Emirates,” said Dmitry Tomilin, Rector of the Institute of Theatre Arts named after People’s Artist of the USSR Iosif Kobzon.

The festival events were attended by students from the Institute of Theatre Arts, young artists, students from the theatre schools of other countries, Muscovites, and tourists.

Representatives of the theatre schools of the participating countries put on a multinational concert programme at the festival’s closing ceremony.

“Creativity has no boundaries and it makes no difference what language the actors speak. If they convey kindness, warmth, and a piece of their heart to the public, then they understand everything,” said Valery Afanasyev, a People’s Artist of Russia, professor, and head of the creative workshop of second year students at the Institute of Theatre Arts named after People’s Artist of the USSR Iosif Kobzon.

Russia has been hosting the BRICS International Festival of Theatre Schools as a form of public diplomacy since 2017. This initiative aims to demonstrate and develop friendly ties among students from BRICS countries.

The Roscongress Foundation manages the events of Russia’s BRICS Chairship.