Project "Kalasovtsy". A creative meeting with leading stage master, Honored Artist of Belarus Tatyana Likhacheva was held at the regional library
18.06.2026
As part of the "Kalasovtsy" project, dedicated to the 100th anniversary of the Yanka Kupala National Academic Drama Theater, a creative meeting was held with the leading stage master, Honored Artist of Belarus Tatyana Likhacheva.
Colleagues, fans, and friends of the actress gathered in the hall of the regional library. They came not only to listen to her but also to share their impressions of her stage characters and stories from their interactions with the heroine of the evening.
Tatyana Likhacheva has been serving Melpomene for almost 55 years, and all these years she has been devoted to one thing – the Kolas Theater, where she was accepted twice. First, the then artistic director of the theater, Semyon Kazimirovsky, recognizing the acting talent of the 19-year-old girl from Polotsk, invited her to the main troupe and immediately cast her in his play. But this first encounter with the Vitebsk professional stage was fleeting – the debutante, after working until the end of the season, left for Minsk to enter a theater university. By the way, this was not her first attempt to get the education she had dreamed of since childhood. During the meeting at the library, childhood photos were shown where the future holder of Belarus's highest theater awards, the "Crystal Star" and "Crystal Pavlinka," participated in backyard productions for her parents.
Tatyana Likhacheva was accepted into the Kolas theatrical family for the second time in 1972, already as a graduate actress with the role of a lyrical heroine. Moreover, she returned to Vitebsk not alone, but with her husband Gennady Shkouratov, who is remembered by many for his vivid theatrical and film roles. They studied together at the Belarusian State Theatre and Art Institute. According to the actress, she fell in love with him at first sight; he looked like an ancient god. For many years, Honored Artist of Belarus Gennady Shkouratov became her faithful partner in life and on stage, and, unfortunately, left his companion very early – he passed away at the age of 47.
Directors gave the young actress leading roles that her colleagues could only dream of: Shakespeare's Juliet and Cordelia, Vampilov's Valentina, Chekhov's heroines, Hanna in the legendary play "Symon-Muzyka" based on the work of Yanka Kupala.
Those who came to the creative evening were able to immerse themselves in the theatrical chronicle of Vitebsk and see excerpts from productions with the actress's participation from the golden fund of the Kolas Theatre. Tatyana Likhacheva spoke about working with the coryphaei of the stage, who lovingly took care of her and shared the secrets of acting. Today, she herself surrounds young artists with attention, who turn to her for advice and listen to her assessments.
The heroine of the meeting, answering a question, said that she does not divide roles into favorite and not favorite, comparing them to her own children, who are equally dear. She carries all the characters in her heart, even Baba Yaga or Tsvetocek and Mysh from children's fairy tales. But there are stage heroines who required special emotional effort. Among them are Golda from "Mishnah" and Euphrosyne from the play "The Cross of Euphrosyne."
– I didn't play the holy intercessor of Belarus, but as if I walked alongside her, trying to understand and present to the audience a small segment of her life and spiritual path, – explains the actress.
She considers herself a Polotsk resident to some extent, although she was born in Volozhin, Minsk region. With her father, a military man, she moved to various cities and spent most of her life in Vitebsk. But in Polotsk, she attended school, went to ballet, then to a theater studio, and found true devoted friends. Therefore, the image of Euphrosyne of Polotsk is especially dear to her. To immerse herself in it, the actress spent several days with nuns in a monastery.
Tatyana Likhacheva says that she is a Belarusian of Russian-Greek origin. Her father is Russian, and her mother is Greek, who lived in Georgia. A few years ago, the actress visited her relatives in Greece and even appeared on the stage of an ancient Greek theater, singing a song of her character from Vladimir Korotkevich's "Laddzirospach". At that time, she felt as if history itself filled the auditorium.
Today, the Honored Artist has moved from lyrical heroines to deep character and vibrant comedic roles. Many viewers come to the theater specifically to see Tatyana Likhacheva on stage. She demonstrates her mastery even in episodic roles, not refusing to appear on stage in just one small episode. And this is her attitude towards her beloved profession, her service to His Majesty the Theatre.
During the more than two-hour meeting, admirers of her talent confessed their love to the actress, her partners thanked her for her sensitivity and acting support, and everyone wished her new interesting roles on the Kolas stage.