On the eve of International Children’s Day, the Halyk Charitable Fund, in partnership with the Astana Opera State Theater of Opera and Ballet, organized an educational program titled Theater Lesson at Astana Opera for young theater enthusiasts. Over the course of two days, children not only watched a ballet performance but also explored the world behind the scenes.
Before stepping into the hidden corners of the opera house, the children learned about the history of the Astana Opera. They discovered that architects, builders, and specialists from 33 countries contributed to its design and construction. Theater staff also shared fascinating facts about the building.
“Did you know that when our theater was built, the flaws of other world theaters were taken into account, so there are no design errors here? The interior blends Greco-Roman motifs with Kazakh national traditions. The foyer is decorated entirely with Kazakh patterns, and the marble staircases on either side of the entrance represent Burabay National Park and the Charyn Canyon,” explained the guides.
This marked the beginning of the children’s journey into the world of theater. They visited the main auditorium and the chamber hall, observed rehearsals, explored museum exhibits, and toured the costume, footwear, props, and stagecraft workshops.
In the recording studio, the children learned about the role of a sound engineer and asked questions like:
- Can you see everything happening on stage from here?
- Is sound engineering a technical or creative job?
- Don’t you get confused by all the buttons?
Afterward, the children attended a lecture introducing the Theater Lesson at Astana Opera program. They eagerly shared their impressions:
“Today was my first time here. It feels like another world with its own rules and traditions. This theater is huge and beautiful. I had no idea it had its own workshops. I’m amazed,” said young Temirlan.
“I didn’t know medical staff worked in theaters. I also learned that performers have only 23 seconds to change costumes between scenes. Watching the rehearsal was fascinating—it felt different from a performance,” said sixteen-year-old Alexandra.
The program concluded with a performance of Scheherazade by N. Rimsky-Korsakov. The children were captivated by the duets and solo dances.
“Ballet is nothing like modern dance. It’s mesmerizing. You don’t want to look away—you just want to watch the lifts and movements. It’s so graceful,” said Ivan.
“The dances were magical. I especially loved the ‘Bakhchisarai Fountain’ piece. Watching the performers made me want to dance too. I’ll remember my first visit to Astana Opera for a long time,” shared Edige.
Many of the children who attended the program dream of creative careers. Their mentors emphasized the importance of such educational experiences and thanked the organizers for giving the children a chance to immerse themselves in the magical world of theater.
