A famous statement goes, “Theater begins at the cloakroom”.However, I would argue that.Theater begins with a cherished dream, and the talent for being true to one’s calling… With their ability to portray and transform into vivid and powerful characters, actors enthrall audiences by revealing the very essence of their characters, modulating the mood on the stage and affecting audience’s perceptions.
Ayna Jumaeva is well known to all A.S.Pushkin State Russian Drama Theater enthusiasts since she is one of the Theater’s leading actresses.Ayna made her acting debut in 2007 and since then has appeared in 35 productions: fairytales, comedies, dramas, mostly playing the principal roles.
She may be rightly called a diva.But the actress does not consider herself a star theater performer, explaining away her success as a fortunate set of circumstances and pure luck.
It is hard to argue this because Ayna hails from an artistic family.Her mother, Gulsere Jumaeva, Honored Artist of Turkmenistan, works with the Puppet Theater company.As a child, Ayna went to see all her mother’s performances with her father Honored Artist of Turkmenistan Khasan Jumaev, a former opera singer and a current singing teacher at Danatar Ovezov Music School.
It was a particularly proud moment when Ayna played the role of Yartygulak, one of the best-loved Turkmen fairytale characters, in a performance given to mark the official opening of the State Puppet Theater.
Ayna’s acting abilities became apparent in her childhood.She was good at reciting poems, improvising and singing and stood out in kindergarten performances.Later, she was part of a school theater and played the role of Cinderella’s step-mother in a play staged in German, and was a member of the children’s dance band Shatlyk.
Ayna also did gymnastics, but eventually her passion for acting prevailed.After finishing school, she worked at the Puppet Theater for eight months, and acted the part of Okga in an adult production “A Home with Children A Bazaar”.
On hearing of a studio school at the Pushkin Theater, Ayna decided to try her luck.Despite the fact that the admission procedure was over, Ayna managed to convince the admission board to give her the chance.
An amusing incident took place when Ayna was taking her entrance exam.She was reciting Ivan Krylov’s fable “The Wolf and the Lamb”, in particular the lines when the Wolf yells angrily at the Lamb: “How dare you, you rogue, immerse your filthy mug In my pure drinking water, And cloud it with silt and sand?
For such impertinence I will indeed remove your head!” and she moved her arm so vigorously that some of the board members sprang up from their seats… “She has a natural artistic bent and should be admitted!” the admission board gave its final verdict.
This is how Ayna took her first step towards her dream.She completely immersed herself into acting training and rehearsals.The first stage performance she played in was “The Roll and the Dragon”.
Then, she played the walk-on part of a wolf cub in “Mowgli”.What expressive gestures and an intense burst of energy!The production’s success was attributed to director Natalia Laukert and choreographer Anatoly Lubents.
Then followed a heart-piercing production based on Boris Vasiliev’s novella “Tomorrow Was the War” … - A year later after I became a studio school student, I received professional training at the Union of Theatre Workers in Moscow, Ayna tells.
We completed an intensive month-long basic training program offered by Russian theatrical arts higher educational institutions and staged a musical called “The Girls-Only Jazz Band”.It was all invaluable experience for me.
What is my most-loved production? “Mother Earth” based on Chingiz Aitmatov’s novella.I am a versatile actress, but I have a special liking for dramatic roles.
I always worry about what response my roles will draw from an audience.I feel happy and inspired if I see that my performance brings out emotions in viewers, touches a place deep inside their hearts, makes them believe that a story unfolding on stage, no matter how incredible it may seem, is taken from life and about life.
That is the magic of the theatre.Working on the musical “Arshin Mal Alan” was both fascinating and difficult, because the cast had to sing their roles by themselves.
My father extended a helping hand with voice training and vocal pitching.I was awarded the President’s Prize for the role of Gulchokhra in the musical.A production of “Love and Intrigue” by German director Akhim Torvald is another vivid chapter in my acting career.
It helped to expand our understanding of the craft of acting and the stage.The adaptation boasted a wonderful international flavor: Akhim Torvald played the role of his Excellency in German, the Theater’s artistic director Ashirmukhammet Rakhmanov acted his role in Turkmen and the rest of the cast performed in Russian.
Do I have a dream as yet unfulfilled?The role of Shakespeare’s Juliet!Mona in “The Star with No Name” by Mihail Sebastian is one of Ayna Jumaeva’s most recent works.
Her heroine in the Romanian writer’s play is a beautiful and infantile high-society lady, seen by director Natalia Laukert as a victim of ideology that gripped pro-fascist Romania in the late 1930s. - Being used to the central character’s classical interpretation, I could not make sense of the director’s vision for long.
But deep reverence for Natalia Laukert made me look deeper.After all, actors should be able to reveal characters’ inner world, convey they thoughts and feelings.What is more, I totally understand how important it is to think in unison in our profession.
I tried to portray the controversial character, and spoiled Mona, accustomed to luxury and idleness, was shown as a woman ready to sacrifice herself for others.After the production’s premiere a son of actress Alina Andronova came to my dressing room and asked: “Will you return to the teacher?” - Of course, I promised to, I said to comfort him.
I absolutely adore young audiences.Children, who sincerely believe what they see on the stage and fully engage in “suggested scenarios”, never fail to amaze actors by their directness and frankness.
For instance, during a guest performance of “Bovenjik” in the city of Astrakhan, when the title character devoured Goatling and Donkey, I took the stage to play the role of Little Dog.
Something unbelievably exciting began in the auditorium: children started to shout to me, “Run away!He will eat you too!” I had nothing to do but to go backstage.
We missed the scene with Little Dog in that performance, but the young spectators apparently thought that they had done a good deed, having saved Little Dog from voracious Bovenjik.
Instead of the epilogue.An Honor Board is being created at School No. 27 in Ashgabat, where Ayna used to study.It will feature photographs of its graduates, who have reached the heights in their profession.
Ayna Jumaeva is one of those honorary alumni.