Theatre
The Faculty of Culture and Arts at M. Auezov South Kazakhstan University operates two theatres for students. A theatre stage with a seating capacity of 400 is located in Academic Building No. 8 and is used for performances.
The “DUMAN” Folk Youth Theatre was established in 2004 under the Department of Cultural Leisure and Stage Activities. Artistic Director: Azamat Abdykadyrov. Director: Erlan Akylbekov.
Achievements:
2014 – 2nd place at the “Student Theatre” Festival in Pavlodar (Supervisor: A. Emkulova);
2024 – Main Prize at the Republican Subject Olympiad held at E. Buketov University in Karaganda (Supervisors: E. Akylbekov, D. Musakulova);
2024 – 1st place at the regional theatre festival in Turkistan region (Supervisors: E. Akylbekov, A. Abdykadyrov);
2025 – 2nd prize at the “Student and Stage” student theatre festival at Abai National Pedagogical University in Almaty;
2025 – Grand Prize winner at the “Human Duty” student theatre festival held at Shakarim University in Semey.
Performances staged over the last 3 years:
- “I Am a Mountaineer”, author – M. Makatayev; Director: E. Akylbekov;
- “My Son, I Say This to You…”, author – B. Bedelkhan; Director: E. Akylbekov;
- “Innocent Strangers”, author – F. Bologna; translated and directed by E. Akylbekov;
- “9”, author – R. Rose;
- “Museum Night”, author – M. Trenk; Director: E. Akylbekov;
- “Wild Life”, author – O. Nigro; Director: O. Ualikhanov;
- “Those Who Found Common Ground”, author – Mar Baijiev; Director: E. Akylbekov;
- “The Fool’s Notebook”, author and director – E. Akylbekov;
- “My Name Is Kozha”, author – B. Sokpakbaev; Director: E. Akylbekov;
- “Zhansebil”, author – Zh. Korgasbek; Director: E. Akylbekov.
The “ORKEN” Student Theatre Studio was established under the Department of Arts. The student theatre was officially opened in March 2010 on the faculty stage and has since been consistently presenting at least 7–8 performances annually to the audience. The main purpose of the theatre is to ensure effective use of students’ free time, to develop their creative abilities, and to educate young people through performances with educational value.
Artistic Director of the theatre: Senior Lecturer of the Department of Arts, Erkebulan Zholdasov. Director: Lecturer Kerim Mutali. The number of students performing in the theatre varies each year. Currently, around 40 students are actively developing their artistic skills in the theatre.
Achievements:
2015 – Winner of the “Best Directing” nomination at the city youth theatre competition “Balausa” with V. Shukshin’s play “Microscope”;
2016 – Winner of the “Best Classical Performance” and “Best Classical Image” nominations at the “Balausa” Theatre Festival held in Aktobe;
2022 – Grand Prix winner at the International “Art” Festival held in Turkistan ( Golding, “Lord of the Flies”);
2023 – Grand Prix winner of the Republican Theatre Festival “Student and Stage,” organized by the Abai National University of Arts in Almaty ( Auezov, “Kokserek”);
2023 – Winner of the “Best Directing” nomination at the same festival (Director: E. Zholdasov);
2023 – Theatre actress Elshibek Shugyla won the “Best Actress” nomination at the same festival;
2024 – Winner of the Main Prize at the “Student and Stage” Republican Theatre Festival ( Golding, “Lord of the Flies”).
Performances staged over the last 3 years:
- Isabekov – “The Guardian of Silence”, May 2023 (Director: E. Zholdasov);
- Zholdasov – “The Deserter”, September 2024 (Director: E. Zholdasov);
- Mecchi – “The Lion King” musical, October 2024 (Director: E. Zholdasov);
- Omarova – “Ahiko on the White Stone”, October 2024 (Director: E. Zholdasov);
- Mecchi – “The Lion King” musical, October 2025 (Directors: E. Zholdasov, A. Medetov);
- Isabekov – “The Guardian of Silence”, May 2025, гастроль tour in Saryagash city (Director: E. Zholdasov);
- Zholdasov – “The Boys of the Dormitory” comedy, December 2025 (Directors: E. Zholdasov, A. Mutali).
