The winner of the eleventh International TURKSOY Theatre Awards ceremony, held on February 9 in Istanbul, was the director of Astana Opera, Erenbak Toykenov. He received the main prize in the category “Best Theatre Director.”
This prestigious international award, established by the Organization of Turkic Culture (TURKSOY) and the Anadolu newspaper, recognizes the significant contribution of our compatriot to the development of contemporary stage art. E. Toykenov’s victory, his distinctive directorial style, innovative productions, and outstanding professionalism have brought acclaim to the Kazakh opera theatre and confirmed its leading position in the cultural space of the Turkic world.
After the ceremony, Erenbak Toykenov shared his impressions, highlighting the award’s high status and unique format:
“The distinctive feature is that the decision is made by a strict professional jury—experts, theatre scholars, directors, and representatives of theatrical organizations. We, the nominees, see only the final result. Therefore, the victory becomes even more valuable and objective,” Toykenov emphasized.
He also noted the high level of competition:
“The competitors were very strong—leading directors from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Kyrgyzstan. All of them work in major theatres, have significant productions, and years of experience. That is why it is especially valuable that my work was recognized as the best among such professionals.”
Speaking about the significance of the award, the director stressed its national resonance:
“For me, it is a personal recognition, but above all, it is recognition of Kazakh theatre, our school, our tradition, and our culture on the international stage. I perceive this award as a responsibility—to continue working even more deeply, boldly, and professionally, representing Kazakhstan on the global theatre arena,” concluded Toykenov.
It should be noted that Erenbak Toykenov stages both national works (Aysulu by Sydyk Mukhamedzhanov, The Morning of Samruk by Tleugazy Beisembek, etc.) and world repertoire (The Italian Girl in Algiers by Gioachino Rossini, etc.). Fans of his work remember his victory at the international opera director competition Nano-Opera in Moscow (2022), where he was selected from over 200 opera directors worldwide. As a result of winning Nano-Opera, E. Toykenov received the right to stage the Kazakh national opera Aysulu by Sydyk Mukhamedzhanov at Astana Opera—a production that received high praise and was recognized as “Opera of the Year” by independent experts. Last summer, the Astana Opera director also participated with great success in the Vienna Opera Festival in Austria—one of the leading international projects in the world of opera.
