“Kholstomer” by Leo Tolstoy on the Tatar stage

Abstract

The article systematizes information on the Kazan school of Tolstoy Studies, on the systematic work of the scholars aimed to perpetuate the memory of the great Russian writer in our region and on trends in translation studies. The paper briefly outlines the regional aspect of the topic “Tolstoy and Theater”. We give a generalized description of the performances, based on the works of Leo Tolstoy, and staged in Tatar theaters on the occasion of the 195 th anniversary of the Russian literature classic. The directors focused on the works from the school curriculum: “The Caucasian Prisoner” (directed by Ilfak Hafizov) and “Kholstomer” (directed by Rustam Galiyev). When developing a script, the screenwriters “nationalized” the content. In order to deepen the images of the “Tatars”, Ilfak Hafizov adds dialogues, and Rkail Zaidulla, contrary to the author’s attitude of detachment, relies on a rich arsenal of vocabulary related to the concept of “horse”, inventing beautiful nicknames for horses, as he cannot overcome his special feeling for horses inherent in the Tatars. Director Lisa Bondar and playwright Ekaterina Augustenyak, working on the dramatization of “Dөm” (Rafkat Shagieva’s translation) based on Leo Tolstoy's play “The Power of Darkness”, transfer the events to modern times. The creators of the play focus on the people. This explains the strange name of the production in Tatar. Tatar performances appeared on the professional stage thanks to the project “Culture of the Small Motherland” and the subproject “Theaters of Small Towns”.