Ilsur Metshin: "In four years, our children have developed into professional...

(Kazan, KZN.RU, June 20, by Zilya Gafiyatullina). The Universiade Village concert hall hosted a pre-premiere show of "The Mowgli Generation", staged with the support of Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin. The mayor, who attended the show together with his wife and children, was among the first to appreciate the production of Konstantin Khabensky's children's art studio. Actor Konstantin Khabensky, main role performers Timur Rodriguez and Elmira Kalimullina, producer Yevgeny Gurov, stage director Ainur Safiullin and other members of the company also watched the play.

"The Mowgli Generation" is a production of Konstantin Khabensky's children's art studio, which has existed in Kazan for four years. The performance is a unique nationwide charity project starting these days in the capital of Tatarstan. The project, jointly organized with Konstantin Khabensky's charitable foundation, involves famous theater and film actors, students from art studios from different regions and Internet users.

Kazan has become the first city in Russia to launch the unique nationwide charity project.  All proceeds from the performances will go to the treatment of individual children. Thus, thanks to the Kazan show, four children from Tatarstan will be treated.

Children from Konstantin Khabensky's art studio will perform together with young actors of Kazan theaters. On the opening day of the Third All-Russian Children's Theatre Festival "Plumage" (June 23) and in the premiere shows (June 21 and 22), however, the main roles will be performed by famous actors: Gosha Kutsenko will play the role of Sher Khan, Elmira Kalimulina – Bagheera and Timur Rodriguez – Baloo.

The two-hour musical "The Mowgli Generation" is based on a story by R. Kipling, "The Jungle Book", but the action has been moved into the modern world. In a fascinating and instructive form, it tells children and their parents on how not to lose oneself in the maelstrom of modern life, to find "one's own truth" and stay human. The protagonist of the play, a boy named Mowgli, escaped from a well-to-do family, living in a big city, into the "stone jungle." Here he learns anew about the world and the people around him, becoming aware of the true values of the metropolis inhabitants.

"The Mowgli Generation" deeply impressed Mayor of Kazan Ilsur Metshin. "My heart is full of emotion. Four years ago, when Konstantin told me what he wanted to do in Kazan, other cities of Russia and in the country as a whole, I couldn't imagine that our children would grow into professional actors. Today, I think we're all overflowing with pride for our children. What they showed today touched everyone, including me; this is what genuine art should be like. I congratulate the teachers, children and their parents. Way to go!” enthused the mayor.