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William Shakespeare in Mongolia

We try to assist our children to grow up as active, creative and civic-minded individuals in a democratic and pluralistic society. We believe arts play an important role in that. That is why we created our " Shakespeare's friends in Mongolia" programme last year. We want to unit the Mongolian children in the pleasure they will take from Shakespeare's plays and characters because William Shakespeare- one of the world miracles, still teaches us to be honest, thoughtful, strong and independent appealing to understand human nature, meaning of life and global problems of the world. Wisdom and greatness of his works help millions of people to get know the real life. The world is changing, life is getting different, people are developing and history is moving. Shakespeare and his works are still viable. He became truly global person. That is why we have chosen Shakespeare and his works as main educational tool of developing the Mongolian children.

Shakespeare's plays have been performed throughout the world in different countries and various circumstances, which reflect their own particular interests and cultural inheritance. Different people and different communities can all accommodate themselves to the mind-set they found in the plays. Every nation finds his works as actual in their modern life. In Mongolia too. Shakespeare's plays in Mongolia always were big successes. Translators, directors and actors acted in the great works awarded the highest prizes by the state.

First, the famous Othello appeared on the stage of Drama Theatre in 1955. Othello was acted by only G.Gombosuren, famous actor more than 1000 times. Since its first performance by S. Genden, famous director and actor, Othello has been performed 4 times by 4 different directors and acted by the well-known Mongolian actors. Romeo and Juliet and Hamlet have been placed twice.

Different Mongolians in the different times have been contributing to introducing the Mongolians with rich heritage of Shakespeare and foster Shakespeare's understanding in the country. Among them such a famous Mongolians as Choijiliin Chimid, great writer, translator and poet, E. Oyun, famous writer, translator and director, Perenlei known as Hodoogiin, Doctor and Professor A. Sharhuu, popular theatre directors S.Genden, G.Galsanjav, B.Monkhdorj, B.Erdenebulgan, G. Jigjidsuren, actors G.Gombosuren, L.Jamsranjav, Ts. Gantomor, B. Sosorbaram, Bandi, H. Urtnasan, translators J. Choinkhor, H.Mergen and others. Due to their efforts and talents Shakespeare became one of the best known and most popular foreigner, whose name sounds magic in our country.

In 1988 opera Othello was first heard at the State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet and Othello and in 2002 the opera was presented again. Mongolian audience is also familiar to his famous tragedies such as King Lear, Macbeth, Richard III and comedies Measure for measure and Midsummer Night's Dream

Shakespeare's study has started in Mongolia since establishment of Mongolian University and it has history of more than 40 years. In 1969 A. Sharhuu, Dr. and Pr. of Pedagogical Institute (old name) translated a book William Shakespeare, which was published by the Russians in series "World Celebrities". At the beginning of 70s, secondary school students started learning Shakespeare's biography and his works as compulsory course. First translation of Hamlet was made by Hodoogiin Perenlei, famous writer and published. Fragments of this edition included to school textbook, which have not changed until now. Later Ms. Maijargal did her Ph.D on Shakespeare's live and works. The best Mongolian translators such as J. Choinkhor and H. Mergen have contributed to introducing the public with Shakespeare's sonnets.

It is true and now it is funny to remember that Shakespeare' s works were used as ideological tool of criticizing the capitalist society. Shakespeare's works used to be translated from Russian. In 1991 Macbeth and in 2002 Hamlet were translated from English by J. Choinkhor and H. Mergen. We believe that the Mongolians should not read Shakespeare through the 3 d foreign language.

So W. Shakespeare became a bridge between " capitalist" English and " communist ", and served as a messenger of different culture and history.

Economic problems raised in the transition badly affected cultural arts institutions. We started facing difficulties on continuation of the previous activities promoting Shakespeare in Mongolia, which was started by the older generation. Suffering from financial problems the Mongolian theatres are not able to cover costs for expensive classic plays. The latest works Mid- summer Night's Dream (2000, director Tuvshin), Hamlet- 2000 (2001, director Jigjidsuren) and the first Romeo and Juliet ballet (2002) were reached the audience due to financial support of MFOS- Soros Foundation.

The Globe International has started Shakespeare's friends in Mongolia programme in 2001. We organised the first ever children festival. The festival included quiz, drawing and drama contests among children and it directly involved 270 children aged 10-17 years old.

The project also provided the children, teachers and the public an opportunity to read the most famous 5 tragedies of Shakespeare in their native language. Now we are trying to raise funds for donation of copies of the book to the provincial schools.

The project also involved workshops Using Shakespeare in Education, handbook and video. In December last year Adam Coleman, an actor from the International Globe Center in London came to Mongolia and conducted 7 workshops. The workshops involved 20 teachers of secondary schools and 180 students from Mongolian universities. According to the evaluation questionnaire 100 % of teachers said the workshops were successful, and 77,8% responded that workshops gave new ideas and Shakespeare's studies should be promoted and expanded. During the project we distributed information on Shakespeare's life and works, and history of his plays in Mongolia through 29 promotional materials in 6 issues of newspaper " World of Arts ".

In April this year the Globe International first ever marked the Shakespeare's birthday in collaboration with our British friends working here. More than 100 people joined to our party. We express many thanks to our sponsors: FCO, Great Britain, the British Embassy in Mongolia, MFOS-Soros Foundation, Bod' Computer CO.LTD and Mongolian-British Society.

The 2d Children Festival Shakespeare's friends in Mongolia will be held in 2003 and we are seeking grants for our activities. Unfortunately, it is extremely difficult to raise funds and find sponsors in Mongolia because there are no laws guaranteeing tax exemptions or other benefits to Mongolian companies, if they support the civil society, cultural and social activities. But we hope we will be able continue our activities in the future due to warm heart of Mongolian businessmen, our British friends and Shakespeare's friends throughout the world will help us.

Personally, I first discovered Shakespeare at secondary school and loved him forever. I was dreaming to visit his country and read his works in his native language. In 1991 the British Counsil awarded me an opportunity to live in London for 4.5 months learning English and practicing on BBC.

In the Globe International we believe that Shakespeare's great ideas will take invaluable and significant contribution to the personal development of individuals and Shakespeare will serve as bridge between the different nations for another thousands years in the future.
The Globe International is a Mongolian NGO working on public awareness development, which is in my opinion one of the most important issues in a new society. We want to make our people more powerful, informed and educated. It is not an easy task in the country with its transitional problems. The Globe International was founded in March 1999 and our motto is Knowledge is Power. When our country is passing its interesting and difficult time in our history, we are aware that we have to take our contributions to overcome transitional problems as much as we can. We use mass media and arts as main tools to raise public awareness and increase public participation in the policy- making and decision-making processes. We have been successfully running projects against violence, corruption, protection of human rights and guaranteeing free expression.