Olga Ternova stages a Shakespeare comedy in Mykolaiv Theater

Olga Ternova, stage and art director of the Theatre na Zhukah, released the Shakespearean Twelfth Night on the big stage of the Academic Art Russian Drama Theatre of Mykolaiv.

The play made its debuts in honor of the International Theatre Day (March 29 and March 30). The cycle of premieres is scheduled to end on April 5.

The play is made as a romantic comedy with “theater inside a theater” elements, to convey the festive atmosphere of a masquerade, improvisation and quips.

All song are live and in keeping with the spirit of the Shakespearean theatre.

“A play about love, frivolous and funny and romantic, it is going to appeal to the people of every age. The production came out cheerful, colorful and spectacular, thanks to Olena Rykusova, the master who designed the striking scenery and costumes”, says Olga Ternova.

She added that this was quite a challenge that brought valuable experience.

“The production took two months, with two fully functional lineups trained. And these are not some fixed lineups – they tend to mix now and again. It was agreed tight from the start that each actor may interpret his character in his own way, with mixing lineups, the performers will be able to improvise, contributing to the play and getting a totally new outcome. This should keep the play alive and maturing over the time. Hopefully, the spectators would want to watch our version of the Twelfth Night again and again, because every time there will be something unexpected, something new”, says the stage director.

The production will make the play adaptable to just about any stage, even out in the open.
The initial reception was great and all premieres drew full house.

O. Ternova was invited as a production director by Artyom Svistun, the new theatre director of the Academic Art Russian Drama Theatre (Mykolaiv). Plays directed by O. Ternova for the Theatre na Zhukah earned the awards of the Mykolaiv festivals, such as the Southern Masks and Homo Ludens.