“Obliteration of national traits” in Karelian theatrical art in 1950s - beginning of 1960s (on the example of Finish drama theatre)

The objective of the article is to study realization of the State policy aimed at reduction of Karelian arts’ funding and eradication of national peculiarities inherent to Karelian culture at the end of the 1950s - the first half the1960s. Based on the analysis of archival sources the author investigated the effects of the merger of the Finnish Drama Theatre and the Music and Drama Theatre on theatrical art of the region. Positive assessment of the fight given by the local arts’ intelligentsia in favor of Finish culture preservation and development is presented.