An interesting and striking page in the history of Belarusian culture is the activity of the Belarusian playwright and honored teacher of Belarus, Vasil Gorbatsevich (April 19, 1893 – September 17, 1985), whose works portray people’s life and reflect the unique features of the epoch.
Vasil Gorbatsevich was born in the village of Dukora, Pukhovichi district, Minsk region, in a peasant’s family. In 1913, he graduated from a teachers' seminary in Rogachev. In 1915, he entered Minsk Teachers’ Institute, which was evacuated to Yaroslavl during the World War I. There, at literary evenings, he met Maxim Bogdanovich and became acquainted with his writing. In 1918, Vasil Gorbatsevich returned to his native village to teach at a local school till 1924. From 1924 to 1929, he taught the Belarusian language and literature at Mogilev Teachers’ College. Here he organized and headed the Mogilev branch of the literati association Maladnyak (Young Growth). From 1929 to 1933, he studied at Higher Pedagogical Institute in Minsk. In 1933, he started to work as a school teacher in Dukora. During the Great Patriotic War he was at the front and badly wounded in 1943.
Vasil Gorbatsevich was engaged not only in pedagogical work. For a long time he had headed a dramatic circle in Dukora. The first performances staged by him were Paulinka by Yanka Kupala and Anton Lata by Yakub Kolas. In 1921, he wrote the play The Wedding, which was staged at the Belarusian State Theater. The performance was remarkable for an accurate restoration of the ancient rite and was rich in songs and dances. In 1923, he published and staged the play Red Flowers of Belarus, which was published separately in 1959. In 1983, a collection of the playwright’s dramas appeared. Vasil Gorbatsevich is the author of memoirs about his meetings with Maxim Bogdanovich in Yaroslavl.
The writer and teacher was awarded the Labor Red Banner and Great Patriotic War I Degree Orders and medals. In 1947, he was awarded the title of Honored Teacher of Belarus. Since 1981, he had been a member of the Union of Writers of Belarus.
The playwright’s sublime, romantic works are impregnated with subtle lyricism and folk wit. Folklore motifs, theatrical effectiveness and deep knowledge of popular speech show the connection between the author’s patriotic feelings and his enthusiasm for the history of the region.
For more information about Vasil Gorbatsevich, see the factual database Belarus in Persons and Events, as well as the monthly bulletin New Books: on the Pages of Belarusian Press (the supplement Belarusian Calendar Dates, 2018, 1st issue).
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