What is happening with the theaters in Almaty

Tengrinews.kz - Leaking roofs, and the lack of facilities for people with disabilities are just part of the problems facing Almaty theaters. Earlier, the Tengrinews.kz editorial team inquired about the condition of the theaters in Almaty. The editorial team visited these cultural institutions again to see if any long-awaited changes had occurred.

Let's start our "tour" with the Republican Academic German Drama Theater. Based on what we saw, nothing has changed. The building needs restoration.

"The situation hasn't improved at all over the past year," confirms deputy director Marina Budiyanskaya.

The theater moved from central Almaty to a former cinema on Papanin Street in 2018. Even then, the building was in critical condition.

The main problem cited is insufficient funding, as the cultural institution was not included in the budget program for renovations this year.

"All the necessary documents were submitted, and the project documentation successfully passed the state review, but we weren't included in the budget. The project documentation was developed with the support of sponsors from Germany, and if the repairs do not begin in the first quarter of next year, we will have to redo the documentation, which will incur new expenses and result in the loss of sponsors. Moreover, 2.5 million tenge from the budget was spent on the review, and now we risk being accused of misusing state funds," explains Marina Budiyanskaya.

According to the deputy director, the German theater now relies on help from sponsors or the government, which may allocate funds during a budget adjustment at the end of the year. Another possible option is financing from recovered assets.

The administration states that more than one billion tenge is needed for the renovation. The theater's roof has already been repaired twice. When a communication antenna was installed on the roof, the structure was damaged, leading to constant leaks.

Heating is another issue for the theater.

"We heat with diesel fuel, but the warmth escapes through the roof. It's impossible to warm up the 126-seat hall, which affects rehearsals and performances. We use heat guns to provide at least some comfort for the actors and audience," says Budiyanskaya.

The furnace in the boiler room, according to staff, is 20 years old and located directly under the auditorium. Preparations for the heating season are underway, and the accounting department noted that more than 11 million tenge is spent on fuel each season.

The small auditorium was constructed by the staff and actors themselves. The dressing rooms are inconveniently located; actors have to pass through the lobby and the small hall to reach the stage of the large hall.

"To maintain secrecy and remain invisible to the audience, the actors wear black cloaks with hoods and move through the corridors this way."

The local restroom is not accessible for people with disabilities, there is a smell of sewage, and flooding occurs during rain. According to the renovation plan, the restrooms will be moved to the upper floor and equipped for people with disabilities. The theater is visited for free by audiences from correctional schools and boarding houses, many of whom use crutches or wheelchairs.

The area behind the theater also leaves much to be desired.

The location for the theater looks strange: there are fences around, smoke from stoves, and litter. Next to the abandoned building, large trucks often stop, and drivers leave waste. However, the deputy director notes that the team has become accustomed to this place and considers it their own, dreaming only of decent conditions and a building that corresponds to its cultural status.

Over the past year, seven new performances have been staged at the Republican Academic German Drama Theater: three of them with budget support and the others through the enthusiasm of the team. The theater will celebrate its 45th anniversary in 2025.

Next, we go to the another "temple of culture." It has been over a year since our last visit to the Kazakh National Orchestra of Folk Instruments, and no repairs have been made here.

"We are again applying for project documentation for next year. First, we need funds allocated for its preparation, and then everything else. This year, we used our own funds to sew new costumes, update the electrical wiring, purchase three accordions, and conduct cosmetic repairs," explains the director, Medet Kuanyshev.

In preparation for the orchestra's 90th anniversary, the hall was tidied up, and the stage lighting was replaced. However, the building, constructed in 1952, has long needed major renovations.

"The building has never seen major repairs. It’s cold in the winter and unbearably hot in the summer. We have tried several times to purchase air conditioners, but the suppliers delivered the wrong models, so we had to return them. Even painting the hall requires a huge amount of money, which we simply don’t have," asserts the director.

The issue of infrastructure is also critical here. The facility is not yet equipped for people with disabilities: the restrooms are located in the basement, and there are no ramps.

The seats in the auditorium were inherited from the Abay Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theatre. After their renovation, the old seats were sent here.

Repairing the outdated heating system is another local issue.

"The pipes have been patched up multiple times. We’re afraid to even touch them—what if they burst?" Medet Kuanyshev shares his concerns.

After the last earthquake, a crack appeared in the wall.

The city’s emergency management department has complained about the state of the parquet flooring in the building. They have strongly recommended replacing it with tiles to meet fire safety standards.

"We need repairs now more than ever. Without significant investments, the building will simply collapse. But we currently lack the funds," emphasizes the director.

The Kazakh State Philharmonic named after Zhambyl also has no funds for major repairs. However, over the past year, several important improvements have been made: the roof was repaired, the facade updated, and cosmetic repairs were conducted on the first floor. The local VIP lounge has also been transformed.

However, plans to renovate the stage have stalled.

"We announced the competition for stage restoration three times, but no one responded. The issue is that a special license for restoring historical buildings is now required, and not all contractors have it," says the philharmonic director, Akan Abdualiev.

Last year, the philharmonic partially updated its instruments.

"We acquired excellent instruments. Musicians say that even their personal instruments are not of such high quality. Now we just need to update the strings," shares Akan Abdualiev.

Renovations have also affected the internal spaces. The dressing rooms, where artists prepare for performances, have been repaired, but the seats in the concert hall still need to be replaced.

"The seats are a separate problem. They were installed in 2007 and were made using a special technology for acoustics, so we can't just put any seats here. We searched for specialists in Russia and China for their restoration and seem to have found suitable ones. But now it all depends on funding. The amount needed is significant," explains the director.

The philharmonic building is designated as a cultural heritage site of local significance. Therefore, it does not qualify for major repair programs funded through Kazrestavratsiya.

The philharmonic continues to be active. Last year, it hosted 252 concerts attended by 76,000 people. The philharmonic employs 469 people.

Next on our list is the Kazakh National Drama Theater named after Mukhtar Auezov, which can "boast" of changes—it has started renovations. With permission from the management, we were able to enter. Complete darkness reigned in the hall as preparatory work began.

The State Academic Russian Theater for Children and Young People, named after Natalia Sats is also counting on repairs in the near future, which we reported on a year ago. According to the theater, all the necessary documents have been prepared and submitted to the relevant authorities.

Text: Olesya Savchenko.

Photo: Alikhan Sariyev.