Students of theatre universities from Russia, Kazakhstan and Mongolia to perform at “Silver Rapier” stage fencing festival in Moscow

The 16th International festival of stage fencing “Silver Sword” named after N.V. Karpov will take place in the Russian capital from 17 to 18 April at the New Stage of the Educational Theatre Complex of GITIS. The TV BRICS International Media Network will serve as the event’s international information partner.

This year, the festival will feature actors and students from theatre universities in Mongolia and Kazakhstan, as well as representatives from 12 Russian cities: Vladimir, Voronezh, Yekaterinburg, Kazan, Nizhny Novgorod, Samara, Syzran, Tver, Ulan-Ude, Yaroslavl, St. Petersburg, and Moscow.

For the first time, performers from the Mongolian Youth Theatre, the Kazan State Institute of Culture, the Samara Puppet Theatre, the N. Nostsova Syzran College of Arts and Culture, and the East-Siberian State Institute of Culture will appear on stage. In total, 38 works have been included in the competition programme.

The world’s only professional festival of stage fencing serves as both an educational and creative platform for the application of knowledge and skills, the exploration of new stage forms and pedagogical approaches. It plays a special role in enhancing the quality of physical training for professional actors and in preserving the finest traditions of Russian theatre.

The main nominations include: “Best Fight”, “Best Female Fencing Duo”, “Best Group Fight” (from six participants), “Original Fight”, “Best Performer”, “Best Actress”, and “Best Pedagogical and Directorial Work”.

The winners will receive festival laureate diplomas and hand-forged fencing blades crafted by master Sergey Lyutrov from the Russian Academic Youth Theatre (RAMT).

The jury consists of distinguished stage fencing teachers, fight directors, and masters of theatre and cinema. The chairman is Valery Derkach, a film fight and stunt coordinator and President of the Union of Stuntmen of Russia.

The winners will be honoured at a gala concert on 18 April. On the same day, masterclasses will be conducted by renowned experts in stage fencing: film stunt coordinator Vladimir Pivovarov; Associate Professor at the Moscow Art Theatre School (MHAT School-Studio) Andrey Uraev; President of the festival and Head of the Stage Movement Department at GITIS, Aydar Zakirov; and actor and stunt performer, Senior Lecturer of the Stage Movement Department at GITIS, Robert Elkibaev.

Part of the festival’s cultural programme will be an exhibition at the GITIS Educational Theatre Complex, featuring photographs of outstanding teachers from the Stage Movement Department – fencers, stage combat choreographers, and masters of stage movement.

The festival was founded in 2007 by Nikolay Karpov, who served as Head of the Stage Movement Department at GITIS and worked as a fight director in theatre and cinema. As part of this year’s festival, film screenings of historical adventure movies featuring his participation will also be organised.