“A Century on Stage: National Theatre and Young Cultural Studies Students”

On January 30, 2026, at 10:00 a.m., members of the Mädeniet KZ Club of the Department of Religious Studies and Cultural Studies at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University took part, within the framework of their industrial practice, in the exhibition “A Century Created by the National Theatre”, organized by the Almaty City Museums Association with the aim of strengthening sustainable partnerships.

The main objective of the event was to broaden students’ professional outlook, foster a responsible attitude toward cultural heritage, and implement in practice the principles of the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly “Partnerships for Sustainable Development” and “Quality Education”.

The cultural event was attended by the club leader, senior lecturer and PhD candidate Kuderyna A.N., first- and second-year Cultural Studies students, as well as group supervisors Alikbaeva M.B., Kaupenbaeva S.M., Kudaybergenov S.E., and Aitenova A.A.

The exhibition was organized on the basis of the collections of the Mukhtar Auezov Kazakh National Drama Theatre and presented the key stages in the formation of professional Kazakh theatre, the evolution of stage culture, and the continuity of acting schools and directing traditions. The exposition featured rare archival materials, stage costumes, performance posters, and photographic documents.

For future cultural studies specialists, the exhibition served not only as an educational platform but also as an important cultural and educational space that enabled reflection on the relationship between the historical memory of national theatre art and contemporary cultural processes.

Ultimately, theatre is not merely a stage, but a way of thinking of a nation. Such exhibitions act as a cultural mirror that reminds us of this enduring truth.