Shoghakat MLké-Galstian: Freedom has its price, and not everybody can pay for it
Support A1+!“Getting closer to the European cultural atmosphere allows us to set the standards, which we should try to achieve.”
Free theatre
Freedom has price, and not every happy man is ready to pay for not bearing ties. Mihr theatre of Yerevan isn’t financed by the state. Actress Shoghakat MLké-Galstian, who is the founder of Mihr theatre, cannot imagine herself but leading a free and creative life.
- We are free as a result of our choice and we have created the theatre, which we wanted
“Not having the support of the state makes us happy, as we are completely independent. Of course the cost of it is that we aren’t financially stable, but we are free in all our experiments and topics we want to speak of. We have put freedom ahead of being a representative of the system,” says Shoghakat.
She has a good opinion on Armenian theatrical life, which she calls ‘colorful’, but she claims as well ‘fresh air is less there’. She would be suffocated in that atmosphere.
She regrets to say that the theatrical field shows no signs of change, “Here the colors are in individuals and not the system itself is like that.”
- Theatre is like a drug, when you have addiction
‘Indifference’ is the worst enemy of the young actress. She thinks that present negative phenomena can be defeated not being in the politics- with the power of art. Shoghakat confesses she is under influence of drugs during whole her conscious life. “The most influential drug is theatre, if it penetrates into your life, you cannot avoid it anymore. The first touch with the theatre was in 2003, when together with my brother we established Mihr theatre. I can say I am under influence of drugs for already 14 years.”
Change the world- this was the goal of Shoghakat and her brother while founding the theatre at the age of 15. They decided to start from disseminating light among the people. The tool to change the world was theatre and they started choosing a name. Shoghakat and her brother were to find a name for the theatre not during hot discussions at the fireplace, but while skiing in Arayi village.
They had the book of Armenian mythology with them. They wanted to move forward national values, and they were transferred to pre-Christian times, “Mihr was god of light, then he carried out the work of enlightenment, and we found a deity corresponding to our ideas. Then we learnt that Garni temple is dedicated to Mihr and we were happy about that. And we called our theatre after Mihr.”
Mihr theatre was recognized the winner as a result of the EU program, “It opened a new page for our theatre. We had a chance for professional growth and progress. Time spent in Poland made us better. A platform of choreographers has been established there within the frames of which we have communications with our foreign partners. Getting closer to the European cultural atmosphere allowed us setting the standards, which we want to achieve. I am convinced the best programs are still ahead,” she says.
Shoghakat MLké-Galstian in the near future will leave for the Czech Republic, where she will take part in the courses, “Thanks to the program of the European Union I entered a sphere, which doesn’t know limits. As a result Mihr theatre acquired wonderful partners, and our future seems brighter.”
- Being familiar with the international experience allows you to look at yourself from the side
Shoghakat highlights the importance of literate and professional partners, “Being familiar with the international experience allows you to look at yourself from the side. Not only the topics of the theatre change, but also contents are changing.” Shoghakat is optimistic about the future; she and her supporters will continue to be leaders of enlightenment.
They started dissemination of light among the people from staging on spiritual theme. The first performance was about realization of guilt, the open-air performance was entitled “Which was our sin, God?” Though Shoghakat appeared in the theatre established by her and her brother, she started from playing not initial roles. “Before coming to the stage, I am anxious, before the performance I am the most coward person in our theatre, I get offended, I am in panic, but it lasts a second, the power of art saves and with the help of it you are transferred to another reality. When the lights are on, you overcome everything and you appear in the space, where there is silence…”
The topics for the performances are selected carefully. Even the difficulty of the topic isn’t taken into account. Such was “Ten commandments of Komitas”. “He is one of the biggest masterpieces of inspiration of our theatre,” she assesses the performance with this one line.
Shoghakat MLké-Galstian considers the existence of their theatre to be big success, “We found supporters, established our theatre and didn’t surrender. It is very difficult for us, but we never think that it could be different. The existence of the theatre is the important part of my life. I think like this- if I have a hand, this theatre must be as well.”
And so that the theatre always exits, “Sons of Mihr” have to live through many difficulties. The area, where rehearsals take place is in Yerrord Mas of Yerevan, it is a small studio, “It is our hole; we carry out all our rehearsals there.” The place of performances is also difficult to choose, “Very often we perform in the halls provided by our friends, sometimes for free, sometimes with symbolic sums.”
- Participation in different programs helps to overcome obstacles and develop effectively
Freedom is invaluable for Shoghakat MLké-Galstian and she stresses the importance of participation in the EU program “Culture and creativity” for the professional development. “Participation in the trainings held in Yerevan was the best chance for me for breaking the barriers and developing with the help of good specialists. Practical trainings in the museums of Kalents and Saryan as well as other places were a good idea, as we weren’t limited to only theoretical part,” says Shoghakat.
She has a good opinion on Armenian theatrical life, which she calls ‘colorful’, but she claims as well ‘fresh air is less there’. She would be suffocated in that atmosphere.
She regrets to say that the theatrical field shows no signs of change, “Here the colors are in individuals and not the system itself is like that.”
The topics for the performances are selected carefully. Even the difficulty of the topic isn’t taken into account. Such was “Ten commandments of Komitas”. “He is one of the biggest masterpieces of inspiration of our theatre,” she assesses the performance with this one line.
Shoghakat MLké-Galstian considers the existence of their theatre to be big success, “We found supporters, established our theatre and didn’t surrender. It is very difficult for us, but we never think that it could be different. The existence of the theatre is the important part of my life. I think like this- if I have a hand, this theatre must be as well.”
And so that the theatre always exits, “Sons of Mihr” have to live through many difficulties. The area, where rehearsals take place is in Yerrord Mas of Yerevan, it is a small studio, “It is our hole; we carry out all our rehearsals there.” The place of performances is also difficult to choose, “Very often we perform in the halls provided by our friends, sometimes for free, sometimes with symbolic sums.”
