Hole-in-the-floor toilet and crazy cold in the hall: Belarusians discuss why a dress code in the theatre will be difficult
Minister of Culture Ruslan Charnecki recently stated that spectators should come to the theatre "as if for a celebration". The idea of a dress code sparked active discussion.
A scene from the play "The Boat of Despair" by the Republican Theatre of Belarusian Drama. Photo: rtbd.by
Minister Ruslan Charnecki, who continues to perform on stage as an actor, spoke on ONT TV channel about introducing a dress code for theatregoers in Belarus.
"People should understand that going to the theatre is like a celebration. Many people work to create this celebration for the audience – that's first. Secondly, it will probably be an expression of respect for the work of these people," said Charnecki.
BelTA propagandist Alena Yelavik, editor of the "7 Dziyon" newspaper department, published by the state news agency, immediately supported Charnecki.
She posted photos on Threads from one of the world's most famous theatres, La Scala. She claimed to have been to the Milanese opera and ballet theatre a few years ago, and the audience there was like on a tram: "Only a few wore evening attire. Moreover, many didn't check their outer clothing, even though the cloakroom works perfectly. Going to the theatre is an event. At least, that's how we were raised. And we even brought a change of shoes with us. And many still do the same today."
Alena Mastavenka, former director of the Gomel City Youth Theatre, responded to her: "You remind me of a grumpy 'praying mantis' granny who hisses at young people when they come to church dressed not as that granny would like. I worked as a theatre director. And I know for sure: it's better for a person to come to watch a performance in jeans and a T-shirt than not to come at all because they don't have a strict suit or an evening dress. This especially applies to young people who don't have sets of clothes for every occasion. The mess is in the head, not in the jeans."
It should be noted that propagandist Alena Yelavik was supported by 158 likes, while her opponent from the theatre world received 2400 likes.
An active discussion of the dress code idea unfolded in the Threads of theatre blogger Yulia Shramchanka. There were voices both "for" and "against".
But theatre lovers voiced objective reasons that prevent adhering to a dress code.
"Well, I'm ostensibly 'for' it. But! In December, I came moderately dressed to the Grodno Drama Theatre. I even wondered if I should have dressed more festively. During the intermission, I visited the restroom, and there it was a 'hole in the floor' type. And how do you use that when you're dressed up? It doesn't compute in my head: evening wear, high heels, and 'that'," one girl wrote.
Another theatregoer supported her: "What about the toilets in the Philharmonic? Is there a petition against these inhumane instances of hell?"
There are other problems as well: "We were at performances of the Russian Drama Theatre at the Palace of Trade Unions this January. The hall was so terribly cold that most of the people sat in furs and down jackets. And they wanted to go in festive attire."
Blogger Yulia agreed: "Yes, and it's always terribly cold in the House of Writers in winter. Do you probably need to have a festive down jacket in your wardrobe? No questions for fur owners."
Not only capital city theatregoers face the cold: "We went to the Vitebsk Drama Theatre in late autumn and late winter. It was so freezing cold that we had to go to the cloakroom for our outerwear during the intermission. Everyone was sitting and chattering their teeth. What dress code are you talking about? The actors don't care who came there or what they wore."
By the way, even BelTA propagandist Alena Yelavik admitted the temperature problem in theatres. She wrote: "Most of our theatres are very warm. But, of course, there are exceptions. In the House of Officers, for example, it's often freezing. In such a case, it's better, of course, to take care of your health. I myself recently found myself in such a situation. During the intermission, I went to the cloakroom and picked up my coat. Other visitors did the same."
Women also have other questions: "Dear Minister, have you tried climbing the very high steps of a trolleybus in an evening dress? And what if you add black ice and high heels? And multiply that by the fact that the cloakroom doesn't accept bags (with boots)? And are theatres ready to accept formal fur coats without a loop on hangers, because no loop can withstand the weight of a long fur coat?"
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