Batlejka
Batlejka (Belarusian: Батле́йка, Batleyka) is a Belarusian amateur puppet theatre. Its name is derived from the city of Bethlehem[1] and performances are traditionally given over the Christmas period.[2]
It became popular in Belarus in the 16th century[3] but the peak of its popularity falls on the 18-19th centuries. It was largely forgotten during Soviet times but revived in present-day Belarus and within the Belarusian diaspora.[4]
Puppet booth and puppets
Puppets on metal rods are led by a puppeteer hiding behind a wooden booth with doors. The booth has two levels - the upper ‘heavenly’ or ‘canonical’ level and the lower ‘earthly’ or ‘layman’ level.[1]
Puppets were traditionally made of wood and dressed in colourful miniature clothes.
Plot
Part 1: Nativity
King Herod learns from the Three Kings that the Saviour is born. Considering him a rival, King Herod decides to kill Jesus.
He order a soldier to go to Bethlehem and kill all newly born babies. The soldier obeys the order and kills all babies except a baby of Rachael. Angry Herod orders to kill Rachael's baby too.
Herod pays with his life for these crimes - the Death beheads Herod and his body is taken to Hell by the Devil. The soldier soon follows his master.
Part 2: Folk scenes
This part comprises a number of humorous and satirical episodes involving multiple characters - peasants, tradesmen, aristocracy, etc.
While Part 1 was performed throughout Belarus with little variations, Part 2 varies significantly depending on the geographical region of the performance and the imagination of a particular puppeteer.
References
- ^ a b Этнаграфія Беларусі: Энцыклапедыя / Рэд.: І. П. Шамякін (гал. рэд.) і інш. — Мн.: БелСЭ, 1989.
- ^ "Belarus", World Encyclopedia of Puppetry Arts
- ^ Батлейка // Театральная Энциклопедия. — М.
- ^ "10-годдзе беларускай батлейкі ў Лондане". zbsb.org (in Belarusian). Archived from the original on 2021-05-07. Retrieved 2021-04-03.
Further reading
- Барышаў Г.I., Саннiкаў А. К. Беларускі народны тэатр батлейка. Мн., 1962;
- Бaрышев Г. И. Художественное оформление белорусского кукольного театра батлейки // Белорусское искусство. Сб. статей и материалов, Минск, 1957;
- Бессонов П. Белорусские песни, M., 1871;
- Бядуля З. Бэтлейка и Беларускі тэатр // Вестник Нар. Комиссариата просвещения ССРБ, Минск, 1922. С. 3–4, 11–12;
- Вертеп в Могилеве // Могилевские Губернские Ведомости, 1866, No. 4. стр. 26–29.
- Давидова М. Г. Вертепный театр в русской традиционной культуре // Альманах Традиционная культура No. 1’2002;
- Дзешавой А. Докшыцкі лялечнік // «Маладосць», 1958, No. 9.
- Збірайце матэр’ялы аб бэтлейцы! // «Наша Ніва», Вільня, 1910, No. 44-45, С. 83–84;
- Карский Е. Ф. Рождественская вертепная драма // Белорусы, т. 3, [вып.] 3, П., 1922;
- Кізіма С.А., Лянцэвіч В.М., Самахвалаў Дз.С. Гісторыя Беларусі: Курс лекцый. – Мн.: Выд-ва МІК, 2003. – 91 с.;
- Красьнянскі В. Батлейка віцебскага аддзяленьня беларускага Дзяржаўнага музэю // Інстытут беларускае культуры. Запіскі аддзелу гуманітарных навук, кн. 6 — Працы камісіі гісторыі мастацтва, т. 1, сш. 1, Менск, 1928;
- Лабовіч А. Першая экспазіцыя Дзяржаўнага музея гісторыі тэатральнай і музычнай культуры // Беларускі гістарычны часопіс. No. 3’2003;
- Лозка А. Беларуская батлейка: Каляндарныя i абрадавыя гульнi. Мн., 1997;
- Перетц В. Н. Кукольный театр на Руси (Исторический очерк) // Ежегодник императорских театров. — Приложения. — Кн. 1. — Спб., 1895. — С. 85-185.
- Романов Е. Белорусские тексты вертепного действа. Могилев, 1898. С. 45–46, 49–52;
- Саўчук Н. Беларуская батлейка // Беларускі гістарычны часопіс. No. 3’2003;
- Шeйн П. В. Вертеп, или бетлейки (батлейки) // Материалы для изучения быта и языка русского населения Северо-Западного края, т. 3, СПб, 1902;
- Эpeмич И. Очерки белорусского Полесья // Вестник Западной России, Вильно, 1867, кн. 10, т. 4, отд. 4;
- Юшкевич С. Небо и земля: сценарии для батлейки / С. Юшкевич, И. Лой, А. Досина, Н. Куксачёв. Мн.: Зорны верасень, 2008.
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