UZBEKISTAN: The Alisher Navoi State Academic Bolshoi Theatre in Tashkent stands as one of Uzbekistan’s most revered cultural landmarks, where architectural heritage and modern stagecraft coexist within a 1,440-seat auditorium rich in artisanal stucco, gilding and traditional Bukhara textiles. Designed by academician Alexey Shchusev and inaugurated in 1947, the theatre recently undertook a stage lighting renovation that carefully balanced historical preservation with the demands of contemporary performance, introducing advanced luminaires from Ayrton to enhance creative flexibility, visual precision and performance control.

Central to the project was the need to integrate new lighting technology without disturbing the theatre’s architectural and cultural integrity. As Vladislav Zhurakovsky, Head of Lighting at the Bolshoi Theatre Tashkent, explains: “It was essential for us to integrate new technologies without compromising the historical character of the space. This called for high precision and non-standard solutions,” with the upgrade focusing on fixtures capable of delivering refined control and flawless colour consistency.

A total of 24 Ayrton Bora S profile luminaires and 26 Ayrton Mistral S wash fixtures were supplied and installed by Sound Creations Electronics, the official Ayrton distributor for Central Asia and the Caucasus. Bora S, a high-CRI profile fixture, was selected for its refined beam shaping and exceptionally smooth dimming characteristics, making it well suited for principal stage lighting, actor modelling and the enhancement of scenic architecture. Complementing this, the compact and versatile Ayrton Mistral S offers a wide zoom range and expressive colour palette, supporting everything from immersive atmospheric washes to dynamic stage transitions.

Working together, the luminaires provide precise colour temperature management, real-time adaptability and seamless cue synchronisation, ensuring that lighting remains tightly aligned with directorial intent. Zhurakovsky notes the technical performance of the system, adding: “The new Ayrton equipment has shown remarkable stability and accuracy in complex setups. In addition to which, concealed mounting and custom cable routing was required to ensure integration into a historical theatre, all of which were met with successfully.”

The impact of the upgrade has already been demonstrated through several major productions staged at the venue. The Mari State Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre’s presentation of Sergei Prokofiev’s “Romeo and Juliet,” staged by Konstantin Ivanov, benefitted from nuanced light gradients and sculpted highlights that reinforced the emotional clarity of the choreography. Similarly, the Tashkent premiere of Jacques Offenbach’s “The Tales of Hoffmann,” directed by Stefano Poda, showcased one of the work’s most visually ambitious interpretations, with Ayrton fixtures supporting layered scenography ranging from ethereal atmospheres to dramatic shadow contrasts, performed in harmony with the National Symphony Orchestra of Uzbekistan.

Reflecting on the outcome, Zhurakovsky concludes: “After the renovation, the theatre has gained a new expressive capacity. We now work with much greater freedom, with the technology fully supporting artistic intent rather than limiting it.” The lighting system concept and integration were realised by Sound Creations Electronics in collaboration with Vladislav Zhurakovsky, the Art & Culture Development Foundation of Uzbekistan and the technical team of YASTREB Sound, underscoring a carefully coordinated approach to modernising one of the region’s most treasured performance spaces.