Tatiana Tyulenova and her "Experiment"

      On March 27, the whole world celebrates International Theatre Day. For the team of the Russian National Drama Theatre "Experiment," this day is rarely a day off. More often, it becomes another thrilling moment before stepping onto the stage. On the eve of the holiday, we met with the theatre's director Tatiana Tyulenieva to talk about her journey into the profession, loud premieres, and the continuity of generations. Tatiana Tyulenieva has been leading the "Experiment" theatre for seven years now. She has considerable experience in the theatre sector, gained after completing advanced training courses and participating in numerous master classes with Moscow speakers. "My classmates and I actively engaged in theatrical amateur activities. In my youth, I loved writing scripts myself, working only from them, without any access to the internet, under the light of a small desk lamp. I also enjoyed being the host at many celebrations, so I realized that being a scriptwriter and director of my events is my path to success," confessed Tatiana Petrovna. Tatiana Tyulenieva's acquaintance with "Experiment" took place back in 1980. At that time, while working as the head of the children's department in the House of Enlightenment workers, she received an invitation to attend a guest performance of the theatre from its long-time leader, Honored Worker of Culture of the Republic of Tatarstan Vyacheslav Kolesnikov. It was then that Tatiana Tyulenieva learned how theatrical life is organized on stage and behind the scenes. "At that time, in Kazan, the team was defending the title of 'People's' with their premiere 'Holy and Sinful' based on the play by M. Varfolomeev. I was fortunate to meet many talented actors. I watched them with bated breath, admiring how skillfully they twisted all the actions," recalls the director nostalgically. In 2019, Tatiana Tyulenieva joined the troupe as a director, taking over from Vyacheslav Kolesnikov. "Initially, it was difficult for me with the new team that had formed under Vyacheslav Fedorovich. However, after some time, I found common ground with all my colleagues," admits Tatiana Petrovna. During Tatiana Tyulenieva's time at the theatre, six diverse productions have emerged, each becoming an event in the cultural life of the district. The director's portfolio includes "Tango of Lonely Hearts," "Russian People," "Wolves and Sheep," "There Was Not a Penny, But Suddenly Altyn," "Jokes in Glukhomania," and "The Postman." A significant milestone was the year 2022. At the XXII Interregional Theatre Competition "Idel-Yort," the "Experiment" team took first place among 114 teams. The play "Wolves and Sheep" based on Ostrovsky received high praise from the jury. "A director is the same as an actor who, unlike others, has played many roles and, in the end, understands where the line is between true creativity and falseness," notes Tatiana Petrovna.

      Currently, the theatre is preparing to impress the jury of the XXVI Theatre Competition "Idel-Yort" with a new strong work—the play "The Postman" based on the play by Seppo Kantervo "Epigones." This production, dedicated to events in Donbass, was already presented to the audience in November last year and was a huge success. The audience also embraced "Jokes in Glukhomania." Tatiana Tyulenieva notes that the team always listens to the audience: "We have been repeatedly asked to stage it again. Of course, we heed their feedback, so we are waiting for the opportunity to take the big stage again." The artists of "Experiment" traditionally celebrate their professional holiday at their post—on the stage of the Riverboat Club. This year, the team prepared a premiere—a romantic comedy "Two Husbands for the Price of One" based on the play by Lilia Motzary. For Tatiana Tyulenieva, March 27 is not just a date on the calendar, but a reason to pay tribute to those who give their mastery to the audience every evening. "The team congratulates everyone on the holiday!" says the director. "Come to our premieres; we are always happy to see you in the hall."

      Photo: KDC "Vostok," from Tatiana Tyulenieva's personal archive.

      Ilya Sologub