Story and photos by Yulia Sukhenko, IFP Russia
On March 17, 2010, on the St. Petersburg Music Hall stage, the theater "The St. Petersburg Antrepriza in the name of Ekaterina Orlova" gave a benefit performance entitled "The Girl and the Centaur," in aid of Russian IFP alumnus Vadim Karastelev, a human rights defender who was violently assaulted in his home town of Novorossiysk.
The performance team, actors Svetlana Dubovtsova and Gennady Volnokhodets (IFP Russia alumnus), sound engineer Marina Kormanovskaya, lighting designer Denis Ponomarenko (IFP Russia alumnus), and stage designer Vyacheslav Bobrov all agreed to support Vadim by raising money through the show and donating collected funds for Vadim’s medical treatment.
Performance announcement poster in the lobby of Music Hall
The ticket sales and performance advertising campaign was launched a week prior to the show. Tickets had been circulated among fellows, alumni, their friends, colleagues, and independent audience members who could purchase them on-line or at the theater book-office.
There were announcements posted on IFP Russia portal, the Human Rights in Russia website, the well-known Russian radio channel Echo of Moscow (St. Petersburg branch), and on Moscow and St. Petersburg portals of Voice of America.
Denis Ponomarenko, IFP Russia alumnus and a performance sound engineer
Before the performance had started the theater team read out a thank you letter from Vadim Karastelev, addressed to Gennady Volnokhodets (Bondarenko), the Antrepriza art director, quoting:
Gennady, thank you very much for your kind and brave heart that is not afraid of cowards and villains. You profoundly understand everything!
I’m getting much better. So far I’ve been using a walking stick while visiting doctors and police officer. But that cannot be compared to those individuals who are in wheelchairs. I will be happy to get pictures of actors and all of the team members of this wonderful performance. I will keep them, cherishing these precious moments.
The performance went brilliantly. It moved and captivated the audience, having caused a range of mingled feelings of pain, joy, and compassion. In the end the audience stood applauding for a certain period of time, warmly greeting the actors. Afterwards Gennady Volnokhodets responded, “I’m glad that many people have come and that the audience took well our humor and the performance itself. The standing ovation in the end proves that it was not in vain.”
the entire performance team on stage
Fellows, currently studying in St. Petersburg and who were at the charity action in Music Hall kindly shared their impressions about the performance.
Andrey Pushkarev:
I’m extremely happy to contribute to this event. The performance impressed me very much and went deep into my heart. I’m glad that I met these outstanding people who are in spite of their disability much stronger by sprit than the majority of us, able-bodied people. I admire Gennady and his theater team who represent remarkable people with an open heart and a deep soul.
Marina Zybaylo
We often ask ourselves philosophical questions about the meaning of life, love, and destiny, and as usual, we are not pleased with what happens to us, around us; we are dissatisfied with ourselves, with people around us, blaming others for all of our problems, expecting someone to arrange everything for us. However, thanks to IFP, we are surrounded by individuals who do not complain, but act, finding distinct solutions to their life challenges. In this desperate situation that Vadim had faced, we realized one more time that we are the unity that we are able to consolidate to be helpful to each other, especially, when initiatives are taken by such brave, strong-willed and resourceful people, like Gennady Volnokhodets, coming up with a concrete way of aiding a friend.
Extraordinary talent, portrayed through the performance “the Girl & the Centaur” gave us an opportunity to think over many things, to value life and to attempt to make it better not only for ourselves, but for others also.
Alina Chuburova
It is stunning! I was stunned. For the first time I’ve seen a performance, played by a disabled actor. For the first time I’ve seen how a person, Gennady Volnokhodets, plays himself on stage. I found myself with mixed ineffable feelings. I felt goose thumps all over me while watching the performance.
Yulia Navrazhina
Many people have come to support the charity performance action, initiated by Gennady Volnokhodets. That means that people are not indifferent. I’m glad that IFP fellows gather together not only in minutes of joy, but also in difficult situation, when the real help is needed. The main hero of the performance, played by Gennady has uttered very important words, saying that the most crucial to a human being is Life. And nothing can break down his/her will to live. Most of life troubles can be overcome if there is love in heart. I thank Gennady for this performance. I wish Vadim Karastelev speedy recovery. He should know that we are around and ready to help out.
IFP Russia staff in front of Music Hall, a couple of hours before the performance
Oksana Oracheva, IFP Russia Director and Yulia Sukhenko, IFP Program Coordinator visited the performance in St. Petersburg on behalf of IFP Russia office. Elena Generalova (Rybina), IFP Russia alumna was invited by the staff to act as a cameraperson, shooting the performance, to make a short film.
Elena Generalova (Rybina), IFP Russia alumna is all set to shoot the performance!