The theatre in the self-declared Republic of South Ossetia has always been an important feature in the life of the community. The news that the theatre will restart with rehearsals after an easing in the quarantine restrictions imposed because of the coronavirus has therefore been welcome news for the population of the small territory. The South Ossetian State Drama Theater is starting work on preparing performances after quarantine events, the theater's press service told the local news agency RES.
"For three months, the theater's creative staff did not work due to the coronavirus pandemic, on Monday it will start working normally. At the same time, a ban on cultural events continues to be in force, and therefore there will be no performances. Artists will involved in rehearsals of performances, " according to the theater's press service quoted by RES.
They noted that the theater troupe will continue to work on the play "Love until memory loss", which had started even before quarantine events. "This is a vivid comedy directed by Eduard Kelekhsayev, which the viewer will appreciate," the press service said.
After that however things will get more serious, because the main production for this year is a play with political undertones.
"The Last Witness" was written by the journalist and writer Alan Ostaev. The director of the production will be Tamerlan Dzudtsov," the press service said. According to the Theatre's press service it will deal with "the 100th anniversary of the genocide of the Ossetian people".
This event in 1920 is central to the narrative of South Ossetians who support the territory secession from Georgia. They claim that Georgia committed genocide against South Ossetia in this time. In 1920 there was widespread fighting and violence across the South Caucasus as Bolshevick forces moved to take control of the new Republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Georgia that had just emerged as independent states after World War 1. Within months the three republics had been absorbed in the Soviet state, and only regained their independence after the dissolution of the USSR in 1991.
source: commonspace.eu
Photo: The theatre in Tskinvali has always been an important feature in the life of the community (picture courtesy of RES news agency, Tskhinvali)