There is such a rural theatre....

Radnaeva S.V.

«Republican Basic Medical College named after E.R. Radnaev»

There is such a rural theatre…

At the foot of the famous and sacred mountain ‘Barkhan Uula’, located in the Barguzin valley, there is a nice village named Baragkhan. The history of the village and its people tightly linked with their theatre which was created in 1936 by a very talented and a unique person Radna Eshonov. He was a teacher by profession, a veteran of the war and labor. Eshonov R.E. devoted all his life to the development of culture of the countrymen, had a special natural acting talent. He became both the first stage director and a leading actor of the amateur theatre. It is necessary to add that R.Eshonov played not only in the folk theatre but he was also invited by Gorky film studio to play one of the main roles – an old Evenk hunter in the film ‘Evil spirit of Yambya’.

The first artists of the folk theatre were Hubuley Choinzhurova,Seseg Yakovleva, Rabzha Ochirov and many others who worked together with R. Eshonov. Their names are written in the local museum.

        In the years of a theatre formation a young troupe of folk artists worked thoroughly on their skills. Their plays were evaluated by the villagers. During the Great patriotic war the theatre directed all its efforts to solve the major tasks that the Soviet people confronted. The artists, involved in the performances, played with great enthusiasm, inspiring the villagers to work in the name of victory over fascism. After the war the theatre had to inspire collective farmers to work on reconstruction. The repertoire of those years included ‘Taishagai tashuur’ by Hotsa Namsaraev, ‘Dulen’ by Namzhil Baldano, ‘Budamshu’ by Shagzhin and other plays. Time went on, new talented actors came to the theatre. In the period of 1960-1970-s a group of brilliant actors, real enthusiasts worked on the improving the stage skills and enriching the repertoire. Among them Malakhan Gomboev, Tsibikzhap Ochirov, Seseg Radnaeva and many-many other actors. In 1961 a great event happened in the history of the theatre, according to the order of Soviet Ministry of the RSFSR the 'Baragkhansky theatre was awarded an honorable title ‘People’s theatre’.

        Many years have passed since that time, a lot of plays were staged, and they are dramas of Buryat, Russian, Mongolian, Kazakh playwriters. During thоse years the actors of the amateur theatre participated in different festivals, including Local, Regional, All-Union, All-Russian ones. Thanks to the tireless work of actors and their devoted attitude to the creation they achieved outstanding results and success, they won many prizes: in 1967 they became the Laureate of All-Russian festival of folk theatres in Krasnoyrsk, in 1971 they became the winner of the fourth All-Russian festival in Novosibirsk, in 1973 at the first festival of the amateur theatres they were awarded a title of the Laureate, which was held in Moscow. And, certainly, the leading actors were given the ranks of Honored artists of Republic of Buryatia and Honored workers of Art of Republic of Buryatia. They are Bubey Radnaev, Balzhin Banaeva, Bator Choynzhurov, Bayn-Dalay Nadagurov and many other talented actors.

        To the 65th anniversary of the Great Victory ‘The dawns here are quiet’ by B. Vasiliev, where talented young actors played, was staged. Here are their names - Jargal Bazarov, Inessa Eshonova, Evgenia Radnaeva, Evgenia Badmaeva, Zhargalma Badmaeva, Aryuna Habtagayeva, Lyudmila Darzhaeva.

        Three years ago in 2016 the theatre celebrated the 80th anniversary of their native theatre. To this date they devoted a play based on the story of V. Shukshin  ‘Clear moon conversations’. The play was staged by the director of the Burayt State Drama theatre People’s Artist of Republic of  Buryatia Basta Tzidenov. 23 actors were involved in this performance, including members of the children's theatre studio “Barun art”. During the celebration of the 80th anniversary of the Baragkhansky People’s Theatre the 29th Regional festival “Theatre Valley-2016” was held. There were 4 amateur theatres of Kurumkansky district participated in this holiday.

        Every spring a traditional annual festival ‘Theatre Spring’ is organized. Just not long ago on the 21-t of March the troupe presented a new performance ‘Bird cherry blossom time’. According to the spectators’ opinion they enjoyed the first night very much. The folk artists of the village of Baragkhan continue the glorious traditions of their amateur theatre nowadays.