MINSK, 23 April (BelTA) - The Belarusian Culture Ministry held a meeting on theatrical art in Minsk on 23 April, BelTA has learned.
"There are 29 state-owned theaters in Belarus that provide cultural services throughout the country," Culture Minister Anatoly Markevich said at the meeting. In terms of human resources, the demand for young staff across some specialties exceeds supply. At the same time, blue-color specialists for theaters are still in short supply.
The minister noted that the theaters enjoy popularity in the society. "However, in 2020, due to objective reasons, number of productions at theaters decreased by 41% over 2019, The attendance fell by 66%,” he said.
In order to keep their audiences in 2020, theaters organized screenings online through ticket operators, on television and outdoors.
Anatoly Markevich stressed that the repertoire policy needs to be adjusted. "The main problem is the focus on foreign drama rather than modern Belarusian playwrights, national classics. There is a lack of performances to historical, military-patriotic themes and about the life of modern Belarusian children and teenagers,” the minister said. “In our opinion, there is no integral system of theatrical festival movement in Belarus. We need a large-scale theatrical festival in Minsk. More festivals in regional centers would be welcome too."
