THE MAIN DRAMA THEATER: A STRING OF GOOD LUCK OF SHEMSHAT KASYMOVA

Shemshat Kasymova, a great-granddaughter of renowned playwright Aman Bazarov, never missed performances for children at the A. S. Pushkin State Russian Drama Theater as a little girl. She was particularly fond of stories featuring beautiful and kind girls. After every story told on stage, she imagined herself as those characters. But it was her secret and she let nobody into it.

When after finishing school, Shemshat informed her parents at a family meeting that she was going to apply for admission to the Institute of Culture, the Department of Acting and Performance; it came as a complete surprise to them. Shemshat’s grandmother – Professor Maral Bazarova – a daughter of Aman Bazarov fully supported her granddaughter: “Why not? My father would have liked this idea… No family member within the last two generations has been on the stage. Let Shemshat change this for the better. The mention of Aman Bazarov’s name had a magical effect on Shemshat’s parents. And after being told that in memory of her great-grandfather she had no right to be a bad or mediocre actress, but only one of the best, she went to apply to the Institute.

– Dilshat Melyaeva was among applicants, Shemshat tells, and we made friends with her at once. Dilshat had an obvious advantage since she had attended the studio school of the Pushkin Theater. And I sang and danced well, just as many other applicants did. We were lucky enough to pass the entrance examinations successfully. Shemshat also had the good fortune to have luminary of stage, People’s Artist of Turkmenistan Ata Alolov as her acting teacher. Students take after their teachers like children take after their parents, therefore it is very important to be taught by a true professional.

– First of all, actors should see themselves as interesting, and then they will be interesting to their audience, the teacher taught us. To this end, they need to read much, analyze, and think… Being well-read, sincere and charming is truly essential for actors…

After graduating from the Institute, Dilshat Melyaeva and I were indeed fortunate to have been assigned to the Main Drama Theater for a two-year job placement – it was another piece of luck. Even I, a recent graduate, could not help but notice that the striking characteristics of performances directed by Kakajan Ashirov were the director’s good taste, distinctive Turkmen character and inspiring music.

The People’s Artist of Turkmenistan firmly believes that every little thing matters greatly on stage: if a small detail fits seamlessly with the entire production, this enormously contributes to a successful stage work; if conversely, it can negatively affect it. That is why Kakajan Ashirovich is very strict about all aspects of creating his theater performance.

I have played 12 roles over 7 years. My first leading role was as Dilora in a comedy theater production entitled “The Contest for Son-in-Laws”. In fact, I am the complete opposite to my character, and this role was a good transformative acting experience for me. What is my most favorite role? Definitely, it is the role of Ayperi from “Shukur Bagshi”. Not only is the role my best loved, but it is also the most difficult one. Young Ayperi is taken captive and brought to a foreign land, where she marries and has a son. But she feels homesick and desperately misses her old mother. During the dutar-playing contest between Shukur Bagshi and a court musician, Ayperi summons courage and kneels at the feet of the Khan. She begs him to send her mother a white scarf (to let her know that her daughter is alive and she should not wear a black scarf to mourn her) and her grandson’s shoes with Shukur Bagshi. There is a belief that the shoes will help the boy to visit his mother’s native land one day.

The commoner woman risks being punished severely for her bold step, speaking openly to the Khan. But Ayperi defies the danger and makes every effort to let her mother hear from her.

The lengthy monologue could have made the audience lose interest somewhere in the middle. What could she do to make every moment of her performance touch a place deep inside the hearts of her spectators and to keep them captivated until the very end of the monologue. Kakajan Ashirovich advised me to use different intonation patterns: start it quietly, then raise your voice and end the monologue with tears in your eyes.

I have also played roles in movies. In 2016, the Turkmen Ovazy Channel showed a film called “Happiness is to Find Happiness in Life” directed by Gulyalek Khizretgulyeva as a special treat for female TV viewers on the occasion of International Women’s Day. There is no need to tell what the film is about – its name speaks for itself. Another film “The Wonder” by Sapardurdy Annaev will premiere on the Ashgabat Channel, ahead of Neutrality Day. I performed the leading role of Gulyalek in it.
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Shemshat is incredibly lucky to have a happy marriage. She married into a creative family, whose members are very understanding and supportive. Her husband, Sokhbet Kasymov, had earned a degree in acting from the same Institute a year before Shemshat. Thanks to his beautiful singing voice, his acting profession has given way to a singing career. Sokhbet’s parents, Ejebay Kasymova and Mukhammedguly Kasymov (who were fellow students at the Institute of Culture) worked together at the Mollanepes Academic Drama Theater for many years, and then at the Main Drama Theater. Now, Mukhammedguly Kasymovich teaches students, and Ejebay Suleymanovna gladly helps to raise her two grandchildren and to relieve Shemshat of household tasks. In other words, “happiness to find happiness in life” is about Shemshat Kasymova, the young actress of the Main Drama Theater.

http://turkmenistan.gov.tm/_eng/?id=15371