The theater troupe of Gazprom Armenia CJSC’s “Educational and Sports Complex” participated in the 26th Bryantsev International Youth Theater Festival held in St. Petersburg and won the Grand Prix.

Theater troupes from dozens of countries applied to participate in the festival, but only 12 were selected. Over three days, the young actors showcased their best performances and simultaneously took part in professional master classes led by renowned experts in the field.

On the final day of the festival, the GAUs Theater Troupe performed the play Tale of the Fisherman and the Fish, the audience to give a standing ovation that lasted several minutes.

During a discussion with the artistic directors of various theater troupes, theater expert and member of the Amateur Theater Committee under the St. Petersburg Committee for Culture, Alexey Pasuev, noted: “We have seen thousands of performances of ‘The Goldfish,’ but the fact that Pushkin’s work could be presented with Shakespearean emotions—and the portrayal of the old woman elevated to the tragic heights of Lady Macbeth—was new and unexpected for us.”

On the day of the awards ceremony, the GAUS theater troupe emerged as the festival’s grand prize winner, proudly representing Armenia on the international stage. They received the highest marks from both the jury members and the other participating theater troupes.

According to Armen Kushkyan, the artistic director of the theater troupe, the troupe—although part of the school program—is much more than just a course for children: “This is a personal interest, a passion, and a sincere love for the stage and theatrical life.”

The members of the theater troupe, in turn, note that the victory, although unexpected, was also long-awaited.

It should be noted that children's ensembles from Belarus (1st place), Moscow (2nd place), and Sevastopol (3rd place) were also laureates of the Bryansk Festival.