History and Theory of Theatre Arts department

Educational programs

Professorial and teaching staff

Islambayeva Zukhra Usmanbekovna

Head of the Department

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Department “History and Theory of Theatre Arts” is the only faculty in Kazakhstan, providing training in drama: theater historians, theorists of theater art, theater critics.

The chair uses the experience of the best foreign theater schools and creates its own model of training in drama based on a synthesis of theatrical traditions of education in Kazakhstan and abroad.

The department exists since 1990. During this period, accumulated and generalized experience in drama training, principles of training in drama formed in Kazakhstan.

Implementation of the educational program of the department is defined by its purpose and development plan, and has three levels of education: 5B041600 – Bachelor, 6M041600 – Masters, 6D041600 – Doctorate.

Graduates of the department successfully work in theaters, such as the M.Auezov Kazakh Academic Drama Theatre, G.Musrepov Kazakh Academic Theater for Children and Youth, Astana, K.Kuanyshbaeva Kazakh Academic Theatre of Musical Drama, Kyzylorda oblast N.Bekezhanova Kazakh musical and drama theater, Zhambyl East Kazakhstan regional drama theater, Zh.Shanina South Kazakhstan regional drama theater, Pavlodar regional Kazakh Music and Drama Theatre. Zh.Aymauytov, Mangystau Regional Drama Theatre. N.Zhanturina, Karaganda regional Kazakh Drama Theatre. S.Seyfullin, Zhambyl regional Kazakh Drama Theatre, etc.

The department graduates work at the M.Auezov Institute of Literature and Art, the Union of theatrical figures of Kazakhstan, in the media, such as TV channels “Khabar”, “Kazakhstan”, “Bilim & Madeniet”, magazines and newspapers editors “Teatr.kz”, “Madeniet”, “Turkistan”, “Didar”, “Akzhunіs-Astana”, etc.

Graduates of the department are teaching at T.Zhurgenov Kazakh National Academy of Arts, at the Kazakh National University of Arts (Astana). Department teacher’s students work in all theaters of Kazakhstan and abroad (Russia, Germany, Israel, and others.), also at the studios, on television, in the producer centers, concert organizations.

Almost 75% of the department staff are graduates of the department over the various years. Teachers of the department teach classes in the Kazakh and Russian languages on the five departments: “Art”, “Theatre Arts”, “Cinema and TV”, “Musical art”, “Choreography”.

Department staff have a great teaching experience, combine in their work the theory and practice of theater art in Kazakhstan, as theater critics and researchers theatrical process in Kazakhstan.

At different times the department was headed by Doctor of Arts, Professor, Honored Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan B.Kundakbayuly; Ph.D., Professor, Honored Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan A. Kadyrov. Professor, Honored Worker of Kazakhstan, Laureate of the State Prize of the Republic of Kazakhstan A.Sygay taught at the department.

Currently, at the department are teaching: 4 professors, 4 associate professors, 3 senior teachers, 1 doctor of art history, the candidate of art 4, 1 Honored Worker of the Republic of Kazakhstan.