Participants of the World Youth Festival were the first to see the performative and educational project “Our Space”

The premiere of the performative and educational project “Our Space” took place within the framework of the WYF. Its presenters are Yulia Peresild and Milos Bikovich, actors of the film “The Challenge”. One of the heroes of the production was cosmonaut Sergei Prokopyev, and the project director was Alexey Frandetti. 

“In general, this is a lecture about space, but in the form of a performance. And we managed to talk about a lot, but in theatrical language. Plus there is live music, a combination of choreography, images on screens, and sound. This is quite a difficult task, but it seems to me that we succeeded,” Yulia Peresild shared her feelings after the show, which took place at the WYF as part of the “We stand together with Russia” day.

According to actor Milos Bikovich, after filming the film “Challenge,” the theme of space “doesn’t let him go.”  

“Space took me then, touched me, as if it brought me into this cyclical gravitational field and did not let me go. That’s why I’m glad that another project about space happened,” admitted Milos Bikovich.

Director Alexei Frandetti faced a difficult task: to present a dry educational text in a lively and interesting way, to hold the public’s attention for more than an hour. The production combines modern choreography and live a capella singing. 

“I think it’s great when something suddenly appears out of nothing. That is, we first see a generally empty stage on which there is nothing, and suddenly space is born, or, if you like, such a decoration of people, dancing bodies, music is born only from voices,” said Alexey Frandetti.

One of the participants in the show was test cosmonaut, Hero of Russia Sergei Prokopyev. 

“For those guys who may fly into space in the future, this format is very useful. It seems to me that he inspired everyone who was in the room. And I’m glad that I succeeded, because for me, honestly, this was my first experience of working on stage,” said Sergei Prokopyev.

The project tells in a fascinating and simple way about the history of space exploration, myths and legends about the origin of stars and constellations. The story is told on behalf of the main character - a little boy Makar, who dreams of space. 

Viewers are transported to the times of Korolev and Gagarin, see the first spacecraft and hear negotiations between the Mission Control Center and the first cosmonaut, which took place on April 12, 1961. Then the plot tells about the first female cosmonaut Valentina Tereshkova and the first person to go into outer space Alexei Leonov. Viewers have the opportunity to visit the Vostochny cosmodrome and study its unique design. 

The astronauts' stories lift the veil of secrecy for viewers - what they do in their free time, how they spend their leisure time, how they train and what they eat in space, how long they spend preparing for flights and what exams they take. The action is accompanied by dance and choreographic numbers, vivid video footage and famous songs about space. 

According to Alexey Frandetti, the project will definitely have a continuation. Perhaps it will be shown at one of the capital's venues on April 12, Cosmonautics Day.

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The World Youth Festival is taking place at the Sirius Federal Territory from March 1 to 7, 2024, as per the decree issued by Russian President Vladimir Putin aimed at fostering international youth cooperation.

The Federal Agency for Youth Affairs (Rosmolodezh) is the organizer of the World Youth Festival, with the Directorate of the World Youth Festival serving as the operator for WYF-2024.