The building of Summer (Green) theatre was erected in the park named after I.V. Panfilov in 1940 by the project of Soviet architect Georgy Gradov, who was the head of the Architects’ Union of Kirghiz SSR from 1937 and then became a doctor of architecture. The Summer theatre, which was a transformed shape of yurt, had 800 places. The building was projected in the style of constructivism and distinguished itself by a clear and a harmonious composition, modest, but expressive art decoration. Sculptures of workers, a man and a woman, were placed in front of the theatre’s main entrance; motives of Kyrgyz national ornament were used in the building’s architectural décor.

  The Summer theatre, located in the middle of green plantations, was one of the cultural sights of the city of Frunze. Many actors, singers, dance groups well-known in the USSR performed there for forty years (Lidia Ruslanova, Mikhail Garkavi, Jewish theatre, etc.). In the early 1980s the theatre, as the Officers’ House and Kirghizia hotel, was pulled down in the time of building of V.I. Lenin Square (now Аla Тоо). In this part we offer the reconstruction of Summer theatre in the park named after I.V. Panfilov and the building’s architectural décor.

Summer theatre in the park named after I.V. Panfilov. Photo of the 1950s.

Plan of Summer theatre

Main entrance to Summer theatre. Photo of the 1950s

Summer theatre. Fragment

Summer theatre. Décor elements
1 – architectural décor near main entrance (casting of alabaster, reconstruction by a drawing and a photograph);
2 – a possible architectural décor near the theatre’s stage (casting of alabaster);
3-4 – versions of ornamented lattices under summer-houses, near hall (casting of alabaster, reconstruction by a photograph);
5 – a possible pattern of upper floor (casting of alabaster);
6-7 – possible patterns of round hatches in the building’s walls (chasing of metal).

A possible design of sign board over the Summer theatre’s main entrance

Summer theatre in the park named after I. V. Panfilov. Main façade (reconstruction in common with Ryskeldi Shamyrkanov)

Right façade of the building (reconstruction in common with Ryskeldi Shamyrkanov)

Left façade of the building (reconstruction in common with Ryskeldi Shamyrkanov)

Summer theatre in the park named after I. V. Panfilov (reconstruction in common with Kylymbek Narynbekov, Mederbek Abdimalikov and Kerim Asylbekov)

The Summer theatre’s interior (reconstruction in common with Kylymbek Narynbekov, Mederbek Abdimalikov and Kerim Asylbekov)

Summer theatre. Elements of décor (reconstruction in common with Kylymbek Narynbekov, Mederbek Abdimalikov and Kerim Asylbekov)

Summer theatre. Fragment (reconstruction in common with Kylymbek Narynbekov, Mederbek Abdimalikov and Kerim Asylbekov)

The Summer theatre’s stage (reconstruction in common with Maratbek uulu Merali)

Summer theatre. View from above (reconstruction in common with Ryskeldi Shamyrkanov)

Summer theatre in a new park (on the basis of the project of G. Gradov; in common with Ryskeldi Shamyrkanov)

One of the renovated building’s facades (in common with Ryskeldi Shamyrkanov)

The renovated theatre’s stage (in common with Maratbek uulu Merali)

The renovated theatre’s interior. Fragment (in common with Maratbek uulu Merali)