Theater season summed up in Armenia`s Kapan 

ArmInfo. The results of the 2024 theater season in Armenia were summed up in Syunik region. According to tradition, the annual award ceremony of the Artavazd  theater award was held on International Theater Day - March 27. For  the first time, it was held outside Yerevan and gathered in Kapan the  cream of the theater elite of Armenia from all regions of the  country. This decision was made due to the fact that this year marked  the 90th anniversary of the Kapan Drama Theater named after A.  Shirvanzade (KDT).

"Artavazd-2025" was dedicated to this event. This initiative was  implemented in Syunik with the support of the Zangezur Copper and  Molybdenum Combine in cooperation with the Syunik regional  administration and the Union of Theater Workers of Armenia (STD).  Deputy Governor of Syunik region Hayk Harutyunyan, speaking at the  award ceremony, called it no coincidence that "Artavazd" came to  Syunik this year. In this vein, he stated that the region is rich in  theatrical traditions, and the region loves and appreciates the  theater as a separate phenomenon.

"This is evidenced by the vigorous activity of the KDT and its  90-year history," he emphasized.

This year the format for choosing the winners of the Artavazd theater  award has changed. As the head of the Union of Theater Workers of  Armenia Hakob Kazanchyan said, an expert group was initially created  that watched the performances of the current season and made a short  list. After the second round of selection, the expert group handed  over the list of candidates to the jury, which determined the winners  in a closed vote. It is safe to say that this year the Hamazgayin  Theater named after S. Sargsyan was the favorite. The theater was  represented in almost all nominations and took seven Artavazds at  once. In particular, the best children's performance was Narine  Grigoryan's production "Are you angry?" (Amazgayin Theatre named  after S. Sargsyan), another performance by N. Grigoryan "Man in the  Palm" was recognized as the "Best Youth Production" of the year.

And her performance with Andranik Mikaelyan "Lakot" became the first  in the nomination "Best Performance of the Year". From the Hamazgayin  Theater "Artavazd" was also received by composer Armen Shaginyan for  the music written for the performances "The Man in the Palm" and "Are  You Angry?". For the best theater review "Artavazd" was awarded to  Ani Harutyunyan for the poetic reinterpretation of "The Man in the  Palm" by Paruyr Sevak (staged by the Hamazgayin Theater). In  addition, the best actor of the year was Vahram Gevorgyan for the  role of Chico in the performance "And it's Snowing Outside"  (Hamazgayin Theater named after S. Sargsyan) and the best young  actress - Milana Kazaryan for the role of Taguhi in the performance  "Lakot" (Hamazgayin Theater). Yerevan Russian Drama Theater named  after K. Stanislavsky also received several awards at once.

In particular, Lilia Mukuchyan became the actress of the year for her  role as Veronica Vallon in the play "God of Carnage" (Russian Drama  Theater named after K. Stanislavsky), the title of best supporting  actress was awarded to Temin Khachatryan for her role as Elizaveta  Alexandrovna in the play "Money. Power.  Passion". The scenography in  the same play by Ashot Tadevosyan was also recognized as the best  this year.  The Russian Drama Theater named after Stanislavsky took  "Artavazd" and in the nomination "Best Direction" (production of  Suren Shakhverdyan "Money. Passion. Power"). The best supporting  actor, according to the jury, was Narek Aykazyan, who played Jean in  the play "Rhino" (Academic Theater named after G. Sundukyan).  "Artavazda" was awarded the "Best Chamber Performance" prize to the  "Babylon" Theatre for the play "E" directed by Zara Antonyan, the  best plasticity was recognized in the play "Ghosts of the Sonata" by  the Pantomime Theatre (directed by Inna Hakhnazaryan). Ruzan  Khachatryan became the best young director for the play "People of  the Sun" (A. Paronyan Musical Comedy Theatre), the jury recognized  Arman Matevosyan as the best young actor for the role of Charlie in  the play "The Algernon-Gordon Effect" (Armono International  Festival),

As the best costume designer, "Artavazda" took Knkush Malkhasyan for  the performances "Sonata of Ghosts" (Pantomime Theater) and "Santa  City" (Shunch Theater ("Breath").

The title of the best photographer of theatrical performances was  awarded to Ara Gasparyan (the performance "Ordinary Miracle" Artistic  Theater named after M. Mkrtchyan and "Sasuntsi David", International  Festival "Armono").

In addition, the head of the Union of Theater Workers Hakob  Kazanchyan presented STD diplomas for their debut on the big stage,  for the serious work done to Shokher Sargsyan (Musical Comedy Theater  named after A. Paronyan), Samvel Sargsyan (Russian Drama Theater  named after K. Stanislavsky), Abel Vardanyan (Paronyan Theater),  Helen Berberyan ( Puppet Theatre named after O. Tumanyan).

He also presented a number of employees of the Kapan Drama Theater  with the gold medal of the Union of Theater Workers of Armenia for  their conscientious service in the KDT, and diplomas of the STD on  the occasion of the 90th anniversary of the Kapan Drama Theater. On  behalf of the governor of Syunik region, certificates of gratitude  were presented to the Kapan Drama Theater for holding the first  Chamber Performance Festival and on the occasion of the 90th  anniversary of the KDT, and to the Yerevan Chamber Theater, the Mher  Mkrtchyan Artistic Theater, the A. Paronyan Musical Comedy Theater,  the V.  Achemyan Gyumri Drama Theater, the Armono International  Festival, and the S. Sargsyan Hamazgayin Theater for participating in  this festival. A number of KDT employees were also awarded  certificates of gratitude for their contribution to the cultural life  of Syunik and their long-term activities. The special prize "Big  Artavazd" was received by the director of the Kapan Drama Theater for  the establishment of the first Chamber Performance Festival in  Armenia, Tigran Atoyan.

Hakob Kazanchyan also awarded special Artavazd prizes for productions  that are outside the format and criteria of this prize - to Armen  Kushkyan for the play "David of Sassoun", presented by the Armono  International Festival, directed by Narine Grigoryan; to the Petros  Adamyan Tbilisi Drama Theater for the play "Khanuma", directed by  Armen Bayanduryan; to Arina Araratyan for "Apostles of Darkness" of  the V.  Achemyan Gyumri Drama Theater; Nerses Markosyan for the play  "Aznavour" of the Yerevan Chamber Theater. 

This year, the Artavazd Award was primarily remembered for the  original gifts to the Kapan Drama Theater on the occasion of its 90th  anniversary from theatrical groups of Armenia, the first victory of  Temineh Khachatryan after 8 long years of nominations, the difficult  work with the director of the Russian Drama Theater Suren Shahverdyan  and the general belief in the dawn over Artsakh.