Yulia Filatova, who teaches Russian as a Foreign Language at ILS, devotes a great deal of attention to the development of her students’ theatrical tastes. Together with their teacher, the students compared the school production of “Alyie parusa” (Crimson Sails) with a production by a professional theater.

“We watched ‘Crimson Sails’ at Youth Theater, and the show was not at all what I had expected,” explains Cho Sein of South Korea. “It was quite different from what we did in school, which followed the classical version. What we saw at the theater was a modernized interpretation, but overall it was very interesting and I liked that there were many songs and dances. The actress who played Assol was very good at expressing emotions and feelings. She sang well and made the audience sympathize with her character and the other characters in the performance. For me, the most unforgettable moment was the last scene when the big crimson sails unfurled.”

Our annual International Week is about to begin at ILS, with the theme “Theater Year.” Once again, “Crimson Sails” will be presented on stage.

Here is 10^th grader Yun Dokung’s evaluation of theatrical improvisation: “It was a modern interpretation, and I paid very close attention to the actor who played Grei, because that is my role in the production. In the film, Grei was brave and intelligent, but in the stage play, he was weak. It was very interesting to see the difference between the two versions of this character. After the show, we were photographed on stage and then we went home. On October 9, we will give our performance of ‘Crimson Sails,’ where hope and faith conquer all obstacles.”

“Dramatic art plays a very important role in a person’s development,” notes ILS Principal Olga Shevchenko. “theatrical productions on the school stage allow the students to grasp who the characters are and how they feel in different situations. Empathy is an important quality that will serve them well in life.”