SYNOPSES

 

“FORWARD, KITTEN!”

In two acts

A touching and highly dramatic story about simple Christian values for children aged 5-12, which has been regularly produced in theatres in Russia and neighbouring countries for more than twenty years. It encourages the younger generation to have high aspirations and and to search for the truth in defiance of egoism and pragmatism. The author, literally transforming dreams into reality before our eyes, sets out his story in a simple form, but the story contains more, in philosophical and in lyrical terms, than just a set of instructions. Just reading this play will leave a strong emotional impression.

Roles for fairy-tale characters – 8
Scenery – rubbish heap, thistles

The full version of the play is to the address http://www.theatre.spb.ru/newdrama/come_on/come_on.htm (Translated by Olga Zhivago)

 

“WITH MAGIC PLEASURE!”

In one act

A fairy-tale for children aged 5-10.

Four snowmen, built at the end of winter in the school playground, decide that, whatever happens, they have to survive till the next year comes. To do this, they must turn themselves into real human beings. What a wonderful idea! But the snowmen cannot agree on what a Real Human Being is like. Perhaps it is someone who goes to school with a huge rucksack and studies a great deal for many years, sometimes spending two or even three years in the same class? Or perhaps it is someone who is lazy, a truant, an aggressive bully who fires his water pistol at the cats in the yard every day and breaks the basement windows? Or is it a cry-baby, a sneak, a coward, who is scared to climb up to the top of the heap of snow and slide down, — is that what a Real Human Being is like? The snowmen spent a long time standing in the playground, getting a good look at everything. That’s how Stupid, Bully and Sneak came into existence. No name was found for the fourth girl-snowman. So she was left without a name. Or rather, she was given the strange name “No Way”. But it was No Way who actually became a Real Human Being, while the other snowmen melted away…

The story can be presented in a ‘winter’ version at New Year, and also in a ‘summer’ or ‘mid-season’ version.

Female roles – 4, male roles – 1
Scenery: school playground, school hall

 

“THE KID”

In two acts

What is happiness? That’s the main concern in this story, full of questions and dramatic struggles, written for children aged 7—12. That’s the age when children first encounter the aching sensation of freedom and the first excitement of youth, the yearning to discover the unknown.

The story looks at a model of happiness, and the philosophical path to happiness, which makes it interesting for the parents of its young audience too. The romantic theme brings a non-didactic and lyrical melody into the story, leaving the audience spellbound from start to finish.

Unusual! Touching! Thrilling!

The play contains songs meant to serve as a musical accompaniment to the show.

Female roles – 3, male roles – 2
Scenery: a meadow, the steppe

 

“DECEMBER 31st”

A fairy-tale for grown-up children

In two acts

(third, last, and, it is hoped, final version)

Imagine a town where it is always only one of the seasons of the year: winter. Every day its inhabitants celebrate the happy festivities of New Year, and the children have to go to one and the same lesson. A grandmother is the only one who remembers that when she was a little girl she buried a "secret” in the ground – a piece of green glass, through which it was such fun to look at the world!..

There are two villains living in the town: the rascally plumber Vorkis and his wife Alibaba Viktorovna Iaitskikh, a botany teacher. Vorkis, of course, found and stole someone else’s secret a long time ago and handed it over to his Boss in Murmansk. But, as you might guess, in the end Good conquers Evil and the endless New Year comes to an end.

The moral of the story is simple:
— Life should not be an endless celebration, however wonderful;
— Life should not be too luxurious or easy;
— Life should be free!

Female roles – 3, male roles – 3
Scenery – a yard by a block of flats, a basement

 

“THE GREEN MARABOU”

 (new edition)

One day during a live television broadcast the Marabou bird goes missing from the airwaves. Twin brothers Lyokha and Seryoga set off to find it, riding on the Eagle, and they arrive in the topsy-turvy world of television, where things happen in accordance with rules which often go against logic, good taste, and common sense.

Together with the twin brothers we become participants in a colourful, vivid and amusing fairy-tale parody of adult television programmes which children between the ages of 5 and 12 often watch.

Roles for fairy-tale characters – 9
Scenery: television studio

 

Translations into English
by Dr Katharine Hodgson
Russian Department
School of Modern Languages
University of Exeter
England

 

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