Grand Premiere: Newmag’s “Bluebeard” Arrives at the State Song Theater

The novel Bluebeard has been published in Armenian by Newmag Publishing House. The story follows Saturnine, a young woman searching for a house to rent, and the mysterious Spanish nobleman Don Elemirio. Saturnine rents a room in one of his luxurious apartments, which are rented exclusively to women. The previous eight tenants disappeared after moving in, setting the stage for a modern interpretation of the famous fairy tale, filled with sharp dialogue, dark humor, and vivid characters.

For the leading roles, Keshishyan chose actors Arsen Grigoryan and Narine Petrosyan. According to the director, the casting was formed intuitively.

“When I thought about the main character, I immediately imagined Arsen Grigoryan. Narine perfectly complements him, and together they create a harmonious and interesting stage atmosphere,” Keshishyan said.

The idea of staging the play was also supported by Artak Aleksanyan, the head of Newmag. This is the first time that the work of Amélie Nothomb has been staged in Armenia. The director noted that the performance is presented through a sarcastic and ironic lens.

“I preserved the main plot, but the historical symbols and some key moments are expressed through music. The performance features well-known French and Spanish musical hits,” Keshishyan added.

The musical accompaniment will be performed by the actresses of the State Song Theater of Armenia. Theater director Mane Grigoryan emphasized that this is the third joint project between the theater and Keshishyan.

Alongside the lead actors, actresses from the Song Theater also participate in the performance, portraying the women who previously rented the apartment and disappeared. The musical numbers will be performed live, accompanied by choreography, while the costumes were designed by Faina Harutyunyan.

The performance is based on the modern interpretation of the fairy tale by Charles Perrault, and will be staged at the State Song Theater on March 12 and 13 at 7:00 PM.