TURKMENISTAN: A REBORN PUSHKIN THEATER PUSHES BOUNDARIES

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 ASHGABAT 000600 SENSITIVE SIPDIS STATE FOR SCA/CEN, SCA/PPD, ECA E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PREL PGOV SCUL KPAO TX SUBJECT: TURKMENISTAN: A REBORN PUSHKIN THEATER PUSHES BOUNDARIES IN CULTURAL LIFE ¶1. (U) Sensitive but unclassified. Not for public Internet. ¶2. (SBU) SUMMARY: Ashgabat's resurrected Pushkin theater has on its own initiative begun to introduce audiences to a growing variety of international plays, some of which push the boundaries of what is generally acceptable in official state policy. The Russian-language theater as an institution is rebuilding following its near decimation under the first President of Turkmenistan. The theater also plays a leading role in developing the next generation of actors and theater professionals who will work in official theaters throughout Turkmenistan. As described by the theater's director, the Pushkin is a unique cultural entity because of its ability or perhaps mandate to expand Turkmenistan's cultural space. END SUMMARY. SURVIVING THE RECENT PAST ¶3. (SBU) The once prestigious, state-owned Pushkin Theater, a vestige of Soviet-era culture, was located in a central Ashgabat location in a beautiful, if aging building. In the mid-90s, President Niyazov ordered the Pushkin Theater to move to the former premises of a chess club farther from downtown where it remains today. The theater's old building was torn down to make way for a park with a fountain (immediately west of the Grand Turkmen Hotel). The new building is at best a make-shift version of what the theater once was. These actions were consistent with Niyazov's general policy of ridding the country of cultural affects that were "not consistent with Turkmen sensibilities." For the remainder of the Niyazov-era, the Pushkin Theater, like all institutions, was under increasing pressure to highlight Turkmen themes or to incorporate Niyazov's Ruhnama ("sacred book") into the theater's work. Cultural space was radically reduced to a pro-presidential, "golden age" view of the world. The state's dominance of culture led not only to the elimination of any hint of dissent, but also the avoidance of any difficult subject. Violence, crime, sex, or any sort of hardship were extremely rare or only mentioned in passing, making for dull cultural output in the late Niyazov era. ¶4. (SBU) During this same period the Public Affairs Section (PAS) twice suggested joint programs with the Pushkin Theater that would have led to production of an American play in Russian. The government rebuffed both attempts despite the theater's eagerness to do so. PAS staff could only meet with the previous theater director on "neutral territory" - a painter's studio. ¶5. (SBU) Following Niyazov's death, President Berdimuhamedov appointed a new theater director about two years ago, Ashirmuhammed Rahmanov. Rahmanov is a Moscow-trained actor and director who also worked in TV and film production. He clearly enjoys his work and has demonstrated exceptional initiative when compared to many Turkmen officials. ¶6. (SBU) In recent months the Pushkin Theater has performed a dizzying number of new plays with limited resources and a limited number of young actors. Many of the plays are international and make no mention of Turkmenistan or state ideology. Some have clearly pushed the boundaries of still generally conservative social norms. Among the recent plays is a Belorussian comedy called "Wishmaster" which explores differences, between men and women when a husband and wife mysteriously trade bodies. Each must get used to life in their spouse's body, with much of the comedy based on misunderstandings and suggestive dialogue between the two genders. An Italian criminal comedy, entitled "Love to the Grave" is the story of a distrustful, unfaithful married couple and includes the wife hiring a "hit man" to kill the husband. "Blaise and Six Women on his Neck" is a French comedy loaded with deceit, an extramarital affair, scantily clad performers and more than enough sexual innuendo. These and other risque plays reach a relatively small, but loyal audience which packs the small Pushkin theater for almost every performance. REBUILDING ASHGABAT 00000600 002 OF 003 ¶7. (SBU) PAO met with Director Rahmanov to learn more about the theater's approach and how the director saw his theater's role in Turkmen cultural life. During the discussion, Rahmanov frequently referred to the Pushkin Theater as young and undergoing significant "rebuilding" in the last two years. ¶8. (SBU) When PAO inquired about how the theater selects plays for production, Rahmanov described a collaborative process in which the theater staff and actors look for Russian language plays on the Internet and decide together. The major constraint is not subject matter, but rather the theater's ability to perform it with their limited resources. He noted that they look for plays that have been successful elsewhere and are likely to be enjoyed by Turkmen audiences. PAO asked specifically if there were any government limits on what they could chose. Rahmanov explained that there were not firm limits, but did say that they have close coordination with Ministry of Culture officials who sometimes offer suggestions or recommend changes in order to avoid issues considered "too much" for Turkmen audiences. ¶9. (SBU) In addition to the plays noted in para. 5, Rahmanov highlighted the theater's work on a Russian version of Ibsen's "A Doll's House," which is a groundbreaking, early 20th century play about the modernizing role of women and about honesty and trust in a marriage. SPECIAL ROLES OF THE PUSHKIN THEATER ¶10. (SBU) AS LEADING CHANNEL OF INTERNATIONAL CULTURE: Rahmanov further explained that the Pushkin Theater remains the only theater which operates in Russian language instead of Turkmen. This is important as Russian is more international, and many famous plays are translated into Russian. He noted the President's policy calling for greater international exchange and greater creativity in culture, in general. However, Rahmanov said that there has been no specific directive for the Pushkin Theater to fulfill this goal; it was rather the theater's initiative alone with the approval of the Ministry of Culture. THE ONLY TRAINER OF THE NEXT GENERATION OF ACTORS ¶11. (SBU) About two years ago, the theater also started a 10-month long drama program for training actors and theatrical support staff - the only one of its kind in Turkmenistan. The program started with two sections: a Russian and a Turkmen section. The first year alumni of the program now work in other state theaters. As a result of the first year's success, this year's program has more students and is being taught only in Turkmen in order to fill the demands of the many Turkmen-language only state theaters. ¶12. (SBU) In a subsequent meeting that PAO held with actors of the Pushkin theater, regarding a possible cultural project for the Fourth of July reception, the actors were enthusiastic about working with the American Embassy. One older actor, probably a veteran of the Soviet years, stood up towards the end of the meeting and exclaimed, "The Russian Embassy doesn't even know we're here!" Officially, the Russian Government provides financial support to the theater, but appears to have little role in its operations. ¶13. (SBU) COMMENT: In Turkmenistan, the theater performances done at the Pushkin Theater are stunning and cutting edge when compared to the recent past. In the late Niyazov years it would have been difficult to imagine officially sanctioned performances of anything slightly risque or lacking any reference to a "great leader" or a "golden age." The efforts by the director and staff of this theater show that in some cases individual initiative can lead to significant changes in the quality and style of an institution's work. Hopefully, government tolerance of the Pushkin Theater's work is a signal that innovation, and creativity will be embraced in other fields as well. The Embassy's Public Affairs Section looks forward to future cooperation with the Pushkin Theater. END COMMENT. ASHGABAT 00000600 003 OF 003 MILES