What the Almaty Satty Theater for Young Spectators will look like after renovation (photos).

In Almaty, the reconstruction of the State Academic Russian Theater for Children and Youth named after N. Sats is set to begin soon. The reconstruction project has passed state expertise, and the city akimat has announced a competition to select a contractor for the work.

The Construction Management of Almaty has provided details about the project's decisions and explained why a total of 21.7 billion tenge is allocated for its implementation.

"The building was constructed in the 1980s, and during all this time, it has not undergone major repairs. The theater team has repeatedly drawn public attention to the deplorable condition of the building.

"After an appeal to the akim of the city, a directive was issued to carry out the reconstruction of this significant object for the metropolis. A technical inspection revealed significant wear and tear on the equipment, engineering networks, roofing, facade tiles, and the interior finishing of the premises.

"In other words, water from the roof is literally flooding the stage and the audience, the external cladding is collapsing, posing a threat even to passersby, and the old electrical wiring could lead to a fire. Currently, the building does not meet safety standards and has lost any aesthetic appeal," noted the head of the management, Almas Shabdarbaev.

The reconstruction project has been widely discussed with the public and experts. It includes strengthening the load-bearing structures, replacing the leaking roof and facade tiles, and updating all engineering communications.

The building will be fully equipped with an automatic fire extinguishing system. Additionally, all theater equipment, the stage, and lighting will be completely updated, aisles will be widened, and spaces for people with limited mobility will be introduced.

"Particular attention is given to the restoration and preservation of architectural elements, as the building is a monument of history and culture of local significance. For example, there are plans to recreate the historical appearance of the hall flooring laid out in the original design. The mosaic in the building's foyer will also be restored," the head of the management said.

All these works will be carried out during the reconstruction of the existing building, which has an area of 14,600 m².

Furthermore, a new three-story building with an area of 10,000 m² will be constructed nearby. It will house a hall for 200 seats with a stage, dressing rooms, workshop and theater studio spaces, storage for decorations, offices for artistic and managerial staff, as well as a training stage and classrooms for a children's theater studio. The two buildings will be connected by a gallery walkway.

It is emphasized that a theater is not an office building, and such an object requires the installation of numerous specialized technical systems, such as lighting equipment, sound systems, ventilation and air conditioning systems, stages with lifts, and decoration mechanisms.

The installation of acoustics and lighting poses particular challenges. A theater is a place with significant loads on structures and equipment, and accordingly, the setup must meet strict standards to ensure the safety of actors, technical staff, and the audience.

"If we break down the allocated funds, about 6 billion tenge is needed for fully equipping both buildings with modern equipment. The reconstruction of the existing building is estimated at 6 billion, and the construction of the new building is around 9 billion tenge.

"Additionally, a gallery connecting the two buildings will be constructed, external networks will be replaced, and landscaping of the adjacent territory with greenery will be carried out. This is a large-scale project, and we can confidently say that after the completion of the work, the theater will become one of the landmarks and a place of attraction for residents in the eastern part of the city," emphasized Almas Shabdarbaev.

The reconstruction of the main building is planned to be completed by the end of this year, with the full project completion scheduled for the first quarter of 2026.

The chief director of the State Academic Russian Theater for Children and Youth named after N. Sats, Irina Simonova, noted that the entire theater team is eagerly awaiting the start of the work.

"The theater, which has been a center of culture and art for decades, is now in terrible condition, one could say on the brink of destruction.

"The building, constructed in the 1980s, has never seen major repairs. Over time, it has turned into a zone of increased danger - both for staff and artists, as well as for numerous viewers. The collapse of the cladding tiles poses risks to the lives of even passersby.

"The situation inside is no better. During rain, the stage, auditorium, dressing rooms, and utility rooms are flooded. The floor of the auditorium has long since deteriorated, and the wooden flooring cannot withstand the load," noted a theater staff member.

According to the chief director, the question of the need for major repairs has been raised for several years. The building also lacks utility rooms where workshops and theater studios could be accommodated, as well as storage for decorations.

"We are grateful that the akimat of the city and personally akim of Almaty, Yerbolat Dosaev, supported us. We did not expect that the theater would not only undergo major repairs with the replacement of all equipment but also that a new building would be constructed, which would connect beautifully with the existing one via a gallery. There will be a Chamber Stage with 200 spectator seats.

"Two new stages equipped with modern technological solutions will allow our theater to become a high-class theatrical center," said Irina Simonova.

Additionally, according to information on the theater's website, the theater for children and youth named after Natalia Sats, founded in 1944, is the first state children's theater in our country.

The Youth Theater was established at the initiative of the world-renowned director and theater arts figure Natalia Ilyinichna Sats. In 1995, the Youth Theater was renamed in honor of its founder to the State Russian Theater for Children and Youth of Kazakhstan named after Natalia Sats. In 1995, the theater was awarded the honorary title of "academic" for its significant contributions to the development of multinational theatrical art in the Republic of Kazakhstan.

In 2000, the State Academic Russian Theater for Children and Youth named after Natalia Sats received a separate building, and performances were moved to the stage of the former Palace of Culture of the Almaty Cotton Mill. The building itself was designed by architects A. Petrova, Z. Mustafina, and G. Dzhakipova and represents a historical monument with an authentic atmosphere and style. Large mosaic bas-reliefs by artists V. Tverdokhlebov and Yu. Funkoreneo are located on the facade and inside the building.