One-actor Theater: The First International Festival of Solo Performances "MONOFEST" has ended in Kostanay.

From May 13 to 18, 2025, for the first time, the International Festival of One–man Performances "MONOFEST" was held in Kostanay - an event that has become an important cultural phenomenon not only for the region, but also for the entire theatrical community of Kazakhstan.

The festival brought together masters of mono-art from eight countries of the world on the Kostanay stage: the Czech Republic, Israel, Montenegro, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Germany, Azerbaijan and Armenia. Over the course of six days, the audience saw eight performances, each of which became a unique opportunity to touch high art in its intimate and deeply personal form – the one-actor theater.

The goal is to open the world of the mono theater to Kazakhstan. The organizers of MONOFEST set ambitious goals for themselves: not only to introduce the audience to the best examples of the world's one-man show, but also to create a platform for creative exchange, professional dialogue and the expansion of cultural boundaries. The development of the mono–theater genre in Kazakhstan is another important mission of the festival.

The festival is a space of communication, dialogue and mutual understanding, where every participant, be it an actor, director, critic or viewer, becomes a part of a large international cultural event.

The festival has become a platform not only for premieres and tours, but also for professional communication, new creative connections, and the exchange of techniques and approaches. This is an important step in strengthening Kazakhstan's humanitarian ties with countries near and far abroad, as well as a significant contribution to the development of regional cultural policy.

The closing ceremony of the festival took place on May 18, 2025. All participants were awarded diplomas of the festival's laureate and a commemorative statuette "Thinker of Tobol".

Source : https://www.gov.kz/memleket/entities/kostanai-madeniet/press/news/details/998340?lang=kk