The Yerevan International Shakespeare 17th Theater Festival will be held from November 14–20 in Yerevan, Gyumri, and Ashtarak, under the theme “Shakespeare and Russian Classics,” and with the support of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Armenia.

The festival’s official opening will take place Friday starting at 19:00 at the Hakob Paronyan State Musical Comedy Theater, where the Russian State "Satyricon" Theatre named after Arkady Raikin  will present the legendary performance, “The Seagull.”

A press conference dedicated to the start of the festival was held today at the Hakob Paronyan State Musical Comedy Theater. Speakers at the presser were Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Armenia Daniel Danielyan, director of the Yerevan International Shakespeare Theater Festival Karo Balyan, director of the Russian State "Satyricon" Theatre Elizaveta Gavrilova, and director Dorian Rossel (Switzerland).

Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Armenia Daniel Danielyan noted that the Yerevan Shakespeare Festival is part of the International Shakespeare Festival, and becoming a member of the festival requires meeting the high standards set in the theatrical arts. According to the deputy minister, the Yerevan International Shakespeare Theater Festival is funded by the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Armenia as a grant. “The main points that allowed the program to receive state funding are that this festival introduces high-quality, interesting, and significant processes to Armenia. Being a member of the International Shakespeare Festival requires qualitative organizational data, participation from various countries, with interesting and high-level performances.”

The Yerevan International Shakespeare 17th Theater Festival program includes performances from Russia, Kazakhstan, Moldova, Hungary, Romania, and Poland.

According to Daniel Danielyan, one of the most important preconditions for cultural development is recognizing it and engaging with it. “Through such festivals, theater professionals, art university students, and the general public should have the opportunity to watch performances by theaters and theater troupes from other countries.”

Within the Yerevan International Shakespeare 17th Theater Festival framework, masterclasses, professional discussions, and a special meeting with USSR People’s Artist, actor, director, and artistic director of the “Satyricon” Theater, Konstantin Raikin will be held. He is one of the most influential figures in modern Russian theater and has made a significant contribution to the development of theatrical art.

During the press conference, the speakers presented details related to the Yerevan International Shakespeare 17th Theater Festival and the performances.

Over the years, the International Shakespeare Theater Festival has become an important cultural platform that brings together theater figures from various countries.