Oybek Bokhodirov: Our theatre is always ready for new meetings with spectators

Deputy Director of the theater for work with the audience Oybek Rustamovich Bokhodirov can not be found in one place – he is always on the move, solves production problems, conducts tours, organizes meetings, concerts, participates in numerous meetings, seminars. One of the first questions that Oibek Rustamovich answered at our request was the question of concerts on the Small stage of the theater, which has been so discussed recently. 

- Oybek Rustamovich, after the publication of photo reports about concerts on the Small Stage for tourists from abroad, there were several comments by Tashkent residents who showed an active interest in this area of ​​the theater. Can you tell us more about this program?

- Initially, it was an initiative of our theater, which was supported by several tour operators. They offered their customers a tour of the theater, and they gladly responded. A trip to the theater includes an excursion and a chamber concert on the Small Stage with the participation of soloists of the opera troupe.

- The soloist of one of the concerts was the artist of the Symphony Orchestra of SABT, the cellist Ogulbanat Yusupova ...

- Yes, this concert was held on the initiative of Ogulbanat herself for the audience, whom she invited herself. Among them were students and teachers of music schools, the conservatory, as well as lovers of the art of playing the cello. We respect all the offers of our artists, and we hope that such concerts will become traditional.

- Is it possible to organize such excursions and concerts for the citizens of Uzbekistan?

- We are ready to conduct such tours for all tourists, regardless of their status. The problem is that tour operators underestimate the possibilities of our theater as a tour object.

- At the same time, the theater building is included in all the lists of sights of Tashkent - both local and foreign travel sites...

- Yes, but in reality our theater is visited by a minimum percentage of the total number of tourists. Now we are preparing a presentation and plan to hold it for all tour operators operating in Tashkent. It should be noted that our theater is unique in its kind, because here you can conduct excursions and concerts for children, youth, the elderly, people with disabilities and low-income people. The theater has created all the conditions for the development of social tourism - one of the priority areas outlined in the Law on Tourism. 

- Oybek Rustamovich, you mentioned children. Nowadays, the issue of educating viewers from a very early age sounds more relevant than ever. Parents are proud that their children easily master any gadgets and much less often report a family trip to the theater. Is it possible to organize excursions and concerts during the school holidays – in autumn, and spring? Is there an opportunity to organize and conduct educational projects, within the framework of which it would be possible not only to talk about opera, ballet, but also to organize meetings with directors, employees of various workshops, and conduct open rehearsals? 

- I'll begin by answering a question about educational projects. Two years ago we developed a project whose main goal was to attract students to the theater. A phased coverage program was developed for 10% of students in all universities in Tashkent. Each institute, university was allocated 5 days, during which 200 students could attend not only the performance, but also a free tour before the performance. Moreover, we offered 20% of free invitation cards – for accompanying teachers, the needy persons. For two years I regularly went to different departments, divisions and centers of the Ministry of Higher and Secondary Specialized Education. There were no results. The first of the five initiatives of the President involves attracting young people to culture and art, and those who must carry out this process in practice themselves are inactive and do not respond to constructive proposals. 

- If senior managers did not respond to your project, then maybe it makes sense to pay attention to schoolchildren? After all, can you make small projects for students in grades 4-11? I am sure that school directors and members of parent committees will give due attention to this option of organizing extracurricular activities during the holidays.

- Yes it would be nice. The theater is already collaborating with several private schools. Students in these schools attend our tours and performances. We planned on Saturday to hold events for high school students interested in art. Of course, with the support of directors and teachers of schools of the capital. 

- That is, we can hope that such a concept as “School day” will appear in our theater?

- Exactly. School representatives will need to solve the problem of transport. On our part, educational events will be held free of charge. We must attract students and their parents to the theater by all means. And we will try to do everything for this that depends on us.

- This is wonderful if every child will have the opportunity to discover the art of theater. However, if your potential audience has some physical limitations, will they be able to fully experience the magic of live action?

- This issue has been discussed more than once at meetings of different levels. And I want to stress once again that our theatre has created conditions for all categories of spectators. We can conduct a tour and provide special seats for spectators in wheelchairs. Everything is thought out here, up to the toilets. Recently we had a Commission, which included people with disabilities and they were convinced of the correctness of my words. Everything that is required of us is made qualitatively and available. Currently, work is underway to prepare booklets in relief-dot Braille. 

- And the last question - what do tourists most often ask about?

- "The Japanese built it, didn't they?". I hear this question more often than others. And I begin to tell the story of the construction of the building designed by academician Alexei Shchusev. The fact that Japanese prisoners of war from the Kwantung army, deported in November 1945 to Tashkent, took part in the final stage of the construction of our theater. Theater, which is always ready for new meetings with the audience.

The press service of the GABT named after A. Navoi 

27 августа 2019