«The Raven»

About the Performance

Why should you see «The Raven», you may ask? It is a rare production for Almaty - a performance where every detail on stage seems to breathe. A world so dark and beautiful that you want to examine it through a magnifying glass: Edgar Allan Poe’s universe, meticulously created by director and stage designer Anton Bolkunov. Here, silence takes the lead, joined by the sound of a bass guitar and the creaking of wooden floorboards.

But there is another world unfolding as well - the world of the writer, the author, a man «in love until death,» and the ominous bird itself. Their dialogue unfolds without words. Their relationship allows no compromise. Both are guided by Galina Pyanova, who masterfully speaks of death through grotesque imagery and of great love through irony and subtle humor - a love after which nothing remains. Nevermore.

«...New theatrical movements are emerging in Kazakhstan: for several years now, the ‘artist’s theater’ has been a major trend in global culture...»

exclusive.kz, March 2024

«...The first thing that caught my attention was the exquisite stage design. This is not merely a performance space, but Edgar Allan Poe’s very apartment - where clocks seem to move on their own, and above the fireplace hangs a portrait of his beloved Lenore...»

manshuq.com, March 2024

About the Director:

Anton Bolkunov is a director and visual artist of ARTiSHOK Theatre. He is a graduate of Gogol Almaty Art College, the Zhurgenov Kazakh National Academy of Arts, and the advanced directing programme (I. Kvirikadze’s studio).

He is a laureate of the Arlekin Award (2021), the Golden Mask Award (2023) and others. He is also a tutor of the actor-director course. Anton develops a unique direction within Kazakhstani theatre - «artist’s theatre», a genre where the visual, performative and artistic language drives the entire production.

Anton’s artwork can be seen in the foyer of the Main Stage at the Bolkunov Electric Gallery. During the theatre’s 25th anniversary season, a new exhibition of his original paintings will be presented.

About the Author:

Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) was an American writer, poet, and essayist. He is considered the creator of the classical detective form and one of the founders of psychological fiction. Poe’s work significantly influenced the development of science fiction, while his focus on irrationality, abnormality, and doom anticipated the aesthetics of decadent literature. He is best known for his dark and mystical short stories, as well as for his iconic poem «The Raven.»