Original “Jan & Beatrice” by Carol Freshett.

Director of the play – Lusine Yernjakyan.

The play opened on February 22, 2008 in Yerevan.

Cast: Luiza Nersisyan, Arshaluis Harutiunyan.

Classic conflict between a man and a woman…

The performance «A Man Is Required» is about a search for love. The heroes of the play are two people who feel spiritual emptiness. There are no feelings and any affection inside them. 

Beatrice desires for love. Jan has lost his hope for a real feeling long ago. 

At first Jan evokes an interest in her, and then she experiences a feeling distantly reminding love. Beatrice almost artificially tries to make herself believe that at last it is he. All her methods face to Jan’s cold practicalness. It seems that now she will win and everything will revive both in her soul and in her life. Jan, a little tempted by a probable change in his life, changes sharply and now frankly tries to call in her disgust towards him, maybe he hates himself, but it is too late, nothing can be changed.

The coming of a new guest, who has read Beatrice’s announcement about the searches of a man and who will make her laugh, move her to pity, who will tempt her and will get an award for it, means that the search is still continued. 

“Twenty years old girl-director selected the play of Canadian author K. Freshet, which managed to reflect the truly vivid and truly painful motive of these days – fear to live, fear to love, conscious choice of minimum emotions… 

…So, this was the first step of Lusine Yernjakyan to the stage – firm, emotional, humoristic, and full of fantasy, but also with some shade of feminity.”

Sona Meloyan, “Absence of love is also about the love”, “Golos Armenii”, 04.03.2008

The performance “A Man is Required” is the first performance of young director Lusine Yernjakyan. The detailed and hard work could be perceived immediately. It is amazing how the young girl could give such assignments to her actors, so that they did not play those psychologically hard and complicated, depressed and lonely conditions, but experienced them on the stage so believably and realistically, that it seemed as if that was their life.” 

27. Makaryan, “Theatrical week is over…”, “Azg”, 27.03.2008

“Début work of Lusine Yernjakyan “A Man is Required” is a psychological drama, where she, as a surgeon, handling the scalpel, opens the abscess of human soul…

The keystone of any artist is to find his actor. Luiza Nersisyan and Arshaluys Harutyunyan are the ideal embodiment of the contrast which managed to present L. Yernjakyan in her performance. “I am a surgeon. I have to hurt people, so that they can feel better later”. This very familiar phrase can precisely characterize the new performance.”

Anna Khristaforyan, “Afisha”, 30.03.2008

“In domestic theatre world a new name of Lusine Yernjakyan appeared. She was awarded annual theatre prize “Artavazd” in the nomination “The best young director” for the performance “A Man is Required”. Her work raises keen interest of the audience, also ensuring “sold out” tickets in Chamber Theatre.”

Ruben Pashinyan, “On my stage is absolute democracy”, “Novoe Vremya”, 25.02.2010

• 12.03.2008 – Armenia, Yerevan, “A Man is Required” play was presented at 

The Theatrical Week “2007-X”.

• 27.03.2008 – Armenia, Yerevan. The annual “ARTAVAZD” prize, held by the Theatre Workers Union, was awarded to Lusine Yernjakyan in the nomination as a “Best youngest director” for “A Man is required” play. 

• 10.10.2008 – Armenia, Yerevan, “A Man is Required” play was presented at the 6th International Performing Arts Festival “HIGHFEST”.

•  22.11.2008 – Armenia, Yerevan, “A Man is Required” play was presented at the III Republican festival of young theatrical directors.

• 02.07.2013 – Armenia, Gyumri, The hall of Gyumri state theatre after V. Adjemyan; “A Man is Required” play was presented at the International theatrical festival “Duet” (director of the play Lusine Yernjakyan).

• 13.06.2017 – As part of the “Cultural Stop” program, initiated by the Ministry of Culture of RA, in the Goris State Drama Theater named after V. Vagharshyan of Syunik region, Yerevan State Chamber Theater presented the performance “A man is required”. Director of the play – L. Yernjakyan. Cast: L. Nersisyan и Honored Artist of RA A. Harutyunyan.

Author and director of the play – Ara Yernjakyan.

First played on 18.02.2006 in Yerevan

27.03.2007 – The annual “ARTAVAZD” prize, 

held by the Theatre Workers Union, 

was awarded to the “To arms!” play, 

in the nomination “The Best play of the year”.

A reality that does not only belong to Armenia but also to any other country that willingly or unwillingly is dragged into the projects of the… let us say “super countries”. Projects that affect the country’s general lifestyle, economy, traditions etc…

The Yerevan State Chamber Theater’s play is a reflection of our times. 

A reality that does not only belong to Armenia but also to any other country that willingly or unwillingly is dragged into the projects of the… let us say “super countries”. Projects that affect the country’s general lifestyle, economy, traditions etc.

The heroes of the play are looking for an exit from that situation, trying to go to places that they think are safer, with a better chance to live and create, work and achieve. Let it be in space, on earth, in the mountains, even under the water. The heroes’ talk, think, plan, quarrel when the “super countries” shout at them, make fun of them, wave a finger at them, and even make decisions that are not only incomprehensive but also unacceptable.

At some part of the play, there is a situation in which one of the performers writes “NO EXIT” on the wall, because it seems that are forgotten or lost all the values and all the names that served as an example for these people, starting from the beginning of the country’s history. 

A country that survived the past millennia and has still a long way to go – walking side by side with other countries – recognizing and respecting each other’s rights, traditions, culture and power- the power that any country has. So “I Zen” TO ARMS that means culture, language, traditions, and any other weapon available for peaceful and creative lifestyle.

“It became a custom that Yerevan Chamber Theatre starts the new season with première – performance “To Arms!” which is the logical continuation of formerly sensational performance of Ara Yernjakyan “Hayk”. The performance is organized in the traditional style of Chamber theatre, where the sharpest problems of vital importance are presented in grotesque form. In another words-laugher through tears.

…The première was accepted by the audience with a bang.

Anna Kristaforyan, “To Arms!”, “Afisha”, 6 – 19.03.2006

“The performance “To Arms!” burns, offends, makes angry, makes us mock ourselves. And the well-known actors of Chamber Theatre Georgy Amiraghyan, Grisha Baghdasaryan, Sergey Danielyan, as well as the younger actors Luisa Nersisyan, Manuk Hakhverdyan, Arshaluys Harutyunyan and Arthur Karapetyan draw the audience into painfully familiar and strained fantastic life, which we can change just together.”

Margarita Yakhontova, “Artavazd and Ara “The beautiful”, “Novoe Vremya”, 09.06.2007

Festivals, Tours:

01.07.2007 – The performance “To Arms!” was presented in “Artist” Republican

Theatrical Festival.

07-14.02.2008 – Iran, Tehran, “To Arms!” play was presented at the 26th Fadjr International Theatre Festival. 

28.10.2011 – USA, Yerevan Chamber Theater presented the performance “To Arms!”, as part of International Theater Festival in Los Angeles “Theaters of the World”, invited by the company “ASA ART INC”, on the stage of “Beyond the Stars Palace” (Glendale, CA).

14.11.2016 – Goris State Drama Theatre Named after V. Vagharshyan presented “To Arms!’ pessimistic comedy. Author of the play – Ara Yernjakyan, director of the play – Gor Margaryan.