Prime Minister Vladimir Putin visits the Kiselyov Saratov Youth Theatre during his working visit to the Saratov Region
It took nearly 25 years to construct the theatre, with work having been suspended for a long time due to a lack of financing. Construction was only resumed in 2010, when several tens of millions of rubles were allocated from the federal and regional budgets to complete the work.
Theatre director Valery Raikov told the Prime Minister about the theatre's history and its founder, Yury Kiselyov, who was the theatre's director for 53 years. According to Raikov, the venue – which opened October 4, 1918 – is the world's first children's theatre.
Currently, the theatre is active in its efforts to invite directors from other theatres to stage plays, Raikov said, adding that although they have regular directors they seek to invite renowned professionals from Moscow, St Petersburg and Yekaterinburg. The theatre also cooperates with directors from foreign theatres, such as the Theater Junge Generation in Dresden, Germany.
"It is very nice," Putin said, upon viewing the theatre building's main hall, which seats several hundred people. "You should organise group visits," he added.
At the end of his visit, Putin congratulated the theatre director on the completion of the construction work and asked him to pass along his very best wishes to the actors.
