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