📷 Photo: DmitriyGuryanov via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
A travelling exhibition tracing 250 years of the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Russia opens at the National Library in Victoria on July 28, in what organisers say is the first time the Bolshoi Museum has staged a show in Africa.
The exhibition, titled “Bolshoi Theatre: Through Time”, runs until the end of August. It carries 91 displays and 16 original stage costumes, including pieces associated with productions such as The Nutcracker and Swan Lake, two of the works that built the Bolshoi’s reputation on the international ballet circuit.
The show marks three anniversaries at once: the 50th anniversary of Seychelles’ independence, 50 years of diplomatic relations between Seychelles and the Russian Federation, and the 250th anniversary of the Bolshoi itself. The Bolshoi was founded by Catherine the Great in 1776 and has staged roughly 1,000 performances a year from its historic home on Theatre Square in Moscow.
Yesterday, the media attended an exclusive preview led by Minister for Tourism and Culture Amanda Bernstein and the Ambassador of the Russian Federation to Seychelles, Artyom Kozhin.
Bernstein, who visited Moscow in April for a performance at the Bolshoi with President Patrick Herminie, said the show was designed to give Seychellois, especially young people, a window onto one of the world’s most recognised performing arts institutions.
“Culture is immensely important for exposing our young people and our populations to the richness of the arts and creative industries,” she said. “This is the first time such an exhibition has come to Africa, and starting in Seychelles gives our small population a unique opportunity to see the legacy that culture carries forward.”
Kozhin called the exhibition a celebration of a friendship that has grown steadily since diplomatic relations were established in 1976. He linked it directly to the cultural cooperation memorandum signed between the Ministry of Tourism and Culture of Seychelles and the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, a framework that he said would expand exchanges in artistic residencies, exhibitions, festivals and heritage preservation.
“This exhibition is very well timed to be part of the anniversary year,” Kozhin said. “We have the Golden Jubilee of Seychelles’ independence and 50 years of diplomatic ties. The Bolshoi Theatre is a gem in global culture, and it is culture that is bridging the nations.”
Recalling President Herminie’s April visit to Moscow, the ambassador noted that the building itself has been substantially preserved since the 19th century, allowing Seychellois visitors to step into the same architectural setting that has hosted Russian and visiting artists for generations.
“We are very happy that President Patrick Herminie visited Moscow in April and attended a show at the Bolshoi Theatre with his delegation. It is fascinating that the building, which has existed since the 19th century, hasn’t changed, allowing our friends from Seychelles to touch Russian history,” he said.
The preview also confirmed that representatives of the Bolshoi Theatre will perform live at the official opening on July 28. Bernstein said the performance would be followed by masterclasses for Seychellois technicians and curators at the National Gallery, covering preservation and the handling of historical costumes.
“These events provide skills enhancement for our community, including masterclasses for technicians and our team at the National Gallery regarding the preservation and curation of costumes. We are excited to learn from those who have been doing this for 250 years,” she said.
Entry is open to the public at the National Library in Victoria from July 28 until the end of August.
Sources cited: 1. Wikipedia, “Bolshoi Theatre”,
