…Then load it with bread, if we are so hospitable!

On March 20, the Head of the Trade Union Committee of ZNTU students – Ivanchenko Andriy solemnly opened the XV STEM festival «Student Jokes-2013».

«That’s the Hound of the Baskervilles! What are you doing?» – «I’m loading the gun with salt!» – «Then load it with bread, if we are so hospitable!» – this joke of the domestic STEM «ZNU» became one of the best at the opening of the festival. Although in a comic form, it seems to characterize the good Slavic nature: we cannot imagine salt without bread, and this suggests that we are always happy to welcome guests! And they are happy to return to us. And finally, yesterday, «Student Jokes» returned to us!

The performances of the groups, as is tradition, were preceded by a briefing with the organizers and the jury, where, of course, our press service was also present. We had the opportunity to communicate with Viktor Andrienko, Tetyana Ivanova, Vasyl Bendas, Vadim Nabokov, Larisa Neverova, Oleh Zyma, Oleh Grigoriev, Volodymyr Prushkivskyi and Andriy Ivanchenko.

The star jury was pleased to recall where the festival began and how it later developed. Viktor Andrienko, who has been heading the jury for more than 10 years, noted that the matter was started in rather difficult conditions: various problems that should have been solved at the state level then penetrated into everyday life, and they joked, of course, about painful things. But now the festival is reaching a new level, because it is held under the patronage of the head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional State Administration, Oleksandr Mykolayovych Peklushenko. And this cannot but please, and the humor has become kinder and more eternal. It is often possible to see that groups, without agreeing, put on performances, for example, on the theme of a young family. And therefore, more and more people are coming to a new humor, where first of all – real values.

The guests also noted the role that STEM played directly in their lives. Thus, the creative path of Tetiana Ivanova and Vadim Nabokov began precisely with participation in STEM. True, at that time they lived in different cities: Odessa and Donetsk, and later began performing in the same group. «In general, STEM is the forge of «The Village of Fools,» »said Viktor Andrienko with a smile.

The guests joked a lot and willingly shared various interesting facts with journalists. For example, Viktor Andrienko said that despite his celebrity, he is not at all afraid to walk around Zaporizhzhia by himself. «You say – «stars,» but we are normal stars. For example, I graduated from the Zaporizhzhia Culinary School, and worked as a confectioner for 3 months,» says the artist. Viktor Nikolaevich was completely open to communication, took pictures and even said where he could be found in the city during the festival days. The actor also spoke about the role of the audience in assessing STEM performances: «The audience is not a fool – they can boo. Then the guys and I ask the participant to leave the stage if the performance is similar to «Comedy club» or reading from a piece of paper, like Zhvanetsky. He did this a couple of times…» – noted Viktor Andrienko. However, he asked not to be too strict with the teams, because going on stage is a serious step, especially for students of technical specialties. «This is not a lawyer for you, Volodya Zelensky!» – gave an example of Viktor Nikolaevich. Although, in the history of the STEM movement there is one such «techie» from whom they almost took a receipt stating that he would not work in his specialty for a single day. Now he is quite a well-known person and is engaged in creativity.

Thanks were also expressed to the friends of the festival – sponsors for the contribution made to the holding and development of «Student Jokes». This year the Festival is held with the support of PC «Dniprospetsstal», PJSC «Zaporizhzhia Automobile Plant», OJSC «Zaporizhzhia Metallurgical Plant »Zaporizhstal«, Zaporizhzhia Chamber of Commerce and Industry, JSC »Motor Sich« and JSC »Zlatobank”.

The official carrier of the Taxi Festival «Optimalne». The restaurant «FELICITA» will treat you. Printing from «Kolorprint». Delicious lunches from the cafe «Suncity», souvenirs from the company «Mir Souvenirs», STEMs are resting in the nightclub «Crowbar», festive stage design from the art studio «Show».

Our journalists asked what the interlocutors would like to wish each other, as members of the jury. First of all, Tetiana Ivanova wished to enjoy the performances, she was joined by Vadim Nabokov, who wished to see interesting numbers that had never been demonstrated before. Vasyl Bendas expressed his wish to his colleagues that the festival would start soon. And Viktor Andrienko dedicated his wish to the participants: «I wish to be free!».

And now it was time for the festive opening! The festival gathered a full hall. The audience is very diverse: from small to large, as well as the press and teams performing on other competition days.

On March 20, the following performed: STEM «ZNU» of Zaporizhzhia National University, Zaporizhzhia (Ukraine), STEM «Krupny plan» of Dnipropetrovsk (Ukraine), STEM «Energo» of Ivanovo (Russia) and STEM «IRKA» of the Institute of Pedagogy and Psychology of N.A. Nekrasov KSU, Kostroma (Russia).

I would like to talk about the highlights of the performances of each participant of the festival opening.

STEM «ZNU» presented a performance on the topic «Zaporizhzhia Sherlock Holmes», where the same detective revealed the secret of Zaporizhzhia bridges, or rather the reason for their such long construction. Interestingly, throughout the entire performance, a baby was laughing in the hall, causing sincere laughter from the entire audience along with the contestants.

The STEM «Close-up» – our Dnipropetrovsk guests – stood out for their originality. Their performance consisted of short sketches, the transitions between which were designed, one might say, in a separate number.

STEM «Energo» from Ivanovo rightfully deserved a standing ovation after their performance. The participants presented a number about life in a dormitory, intertwining it with mobilization for the army and passing exams in different countries of the world. The contestants used a lot of music and even audio clips from favorite Soviet feature and cartoon films. It turned out very talented, original, and most importantly – terribly funny!

STEM «IRKA» from Kostroma also received loud and heartfelt applause. The guys first got the audience going with unbridled dancing, and then presented a performance on the topic «What Men Gossip About». It was very interesting that the gossip grew into a real performance in front of the audience – and the audience could not help but laugh. The sketches on the topics «Women’s Eyes» and «Nonsense Competition» were also very pleasing – well, very funny! And at the end of the performance, our guests from Kostroma conquered one of the most famous voices of «Mashinka» Lisa Borodina with their dance. Moreover, they conquered not only her, but also the entire hall.

At the end of the opening of the festival, each viewer could vote for the team that they liked the most, so that it would claim the audience’s sympathy prize at the end.

We thank all the participants for their performances, and the jury members for the conversation. We expect even more vivid emotions from «Student Jokes-2013», because the beginning was very promising and brought a lot of pleasure! And most importantly: WE INVITE ALL INTERESTED COMPETITORS TO THE PERFORMANCES! We promise you won’t regret it at all!

Snizhana Vychuzhanina

Press Service of the Festival (Guzenko Yuliia (095)4112122)

Organizing Committee of the Festival: +38(061)224-42-35,

e-mail: stem-2013@rambler.ru