BOOKMARKS www.goldenmask.ru/eng/index.php All-Russian theatre festival
RUSSIA NOW WWW.RBTH.RU
07
www.chekhovfest.ru Chekhov International Theatre Festival in Moscow
www.bolshoi.ru/en/ The State Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Russia
SECTION SPONSORED BY ROSSIYSKAYA GAZETA, RUSSIA
DISTRIBUTED WITH THE DAILY TELEGRAPH TUESDAY_MAY 26_2009 Culture
Drama Despite the economic crisis, theatres are experiencing a real boom
Opinion
Russian theatre begins
Audiences cry
in all the same
places
at the cloakroom
LEV DODIN
DIRECTOR
History of our
national theatre
We do a lot of touring, in Russia and
abroad. These days, given periodic insidi-
ous attempts to bury repertory and prove it
The history of Russian thea- is doomed, it is important to show how such
tre dates from the 17th cen- a theatre as ours evolves and how its actors
tury, when the first theatre grow.
emerged at the court of Tsar A theatre must try to enlighten at least those
Aleksey. Before that, travel- who would like to be enlightened. Theatre-
ling mummers (“skomorokhi”) goers, as opposed to TV watchers, choose to
performed only on special go to the theatre. According to the man who in-
days. In 1750 the first profes- vented television – the Russian emigre Vladimir
sional theatre was opened in Zvorykin, who died recently – the most remark-
Yaroslavl. It had a permanent able thing about television is that you can turn
company, a large repertoire it off. In this sense, all remarks to the effect that
and a new building capable of most people don’t want anything serious are
holding 1,000 people. Within profoundly untrue.
a year news of the Yaroslavl It offends me to hear that culture is not a priority
theatre reached Petersburg for assistance during the crisis. In this sense,
and the Empress Elizabeth, we are no different than Europe. Because today
who transferred part of the in France, for instance, where culture was
company to Saint Petersburg always supported, during the last presidential
by imperial decree in January elections and the last parliamentary and mu-
1752. To this day the best of nicipal elections, the word “culture” was not
the best provincial actors and mentioned in a single candidate’s or party’s
directors are swallowed up by programme. This was a first and theatres, in
the two cultural capitals, Mos- particular, were shocked. Both Russia and the
cow and Saint Petersburg. West ceased to need culture. This is a world-
The birth of the first Russian wide trend. I think the crisis in the world today
national professional theatre is not just the result of all sorts of economic
is traditionally dated to Au- games, but of a loss of aesthetic and ethical
RIA-NOVOSTI gust 30, 1756, when the Alex- standards. It’s all connected. What we are now
Anton Chekhov’s theatrical works became the “visiting card” of Russian literature around the world. In this photo: Chekhov (centre) reads one of his plays to the actors of the andrinskiy Theatre in Peters- witnessing is not only a financial crisis, but a
Moscow Art Theatre (1898). burg and the Maly Theatre in worldwide crisis of ethics.
Moscow were founded. By the Nevertheless, I am convinced that sooner or
beginning of the 19th century later people will again value not what can be
In Moscow there are more menko, with the marvellous duce new Chekhovs and Os- attributed to Stanislavsky: and no unions can infl uence a network of Russian imperial shown to millions at the same time, but to 200-
than 100 productions every Saint Petersburg Malyy The- trovskiys. “Theatre begins at the cloak- the artistic substance of the theatres was forming, includ- 500 people because it is unique. Perhaps we
night, and theatres are full. Is atre and Moscow’s P Fo- What other main things do room.” work. If only people knew ing the three in Saint Peters- are now living through a period when what is
this a deliberate flight from menko Workshop respective- you need to know about Rus- Also, Russia doesn’t have all- what torment Russian direc- burg (the Alexandrinskiy, Mar- shown to millions costs a lot. Although it seems
depressing economic reality? ly. Also of note are Sergey sian theatre? powerful theatrical unions tors go through when they iynskiy and Mikhailovskiy), to me that, in fact, this is mass culture which is
No, merely Russians’ love for Zhenovach’s Theatrical Art First of all, a small practical regulating production length take their shows abroad and and the two in Moscow (the always cheaper than what is made to individual
the theatre, which began in Studio, many young direc- detail: audience members to ensure nobody works be- have to cut the production to Maly and the Bolshoi, which specifications. And when we return to a culture
the middle of the 18th tors with innovative cross- tend to take their coats off yond three hours. And if there three hours. The way the cre- opened in 1776). By that time that is made to individual specifications, the
century. genre productions, and the and even change their shoes, are any such organisations, ators conceive it is how it will numerous provincial compa- money will appear.
“sore point” of Russian thea- which would astonish habit- their role is merely symbolic be on stage. As long, of course, nies were being formed. Pri- I believe European and Russian perceptions
IRINA KORNEYEVA-LYUBSHINA
tre, the contemporary drama, ués of, say, Broadway, where – productions in Russia can as the directors have enough vate theatres began to open are quite similar. Audiences cry in all the same
RUSSIA NOW which will never become people sit with their coats on. last for an hour, three hours, imagination, and the audi- in 1882. places. Against their will, they cry. In the main,
mainstream and will not pro- There’s a well known phrase fi ve hours, even several days, ence enough patience.
-
they resemble each other. After our last tour in
The turning point in modern Paris, Madame Figaro magazine ran a piece
theatrical history, first in about why one should see Grossman’s Life and
Russia and then the world, Fate. It listed three reasons. The first two I can’t
came on June 22, 1897:
Great contemporary
Robert Brustein, Andrei Ser- Westerners often can’t handle mention, they were complimentary. But the third,
Vladimir Nemirovich- ban. They were a breath of that. Americans are baffled by I think, was wonderful: “Because this is a play
Danchenko and Konstantin fresh air. Americans tend to Russian directors who stage about us.” It often seems to us that we tour with
Stanislavskiy met at the
drama exists in Russia
look on theatre as entertain- plays of varying obscurity. In Abramov’s Brothers and Sisters, Life and Fate
Slavyanskiy Bazar restau- ment. In that sense I’m not a America, if something is un- or Chekhov’s Uncle Vanya to make people think
rant in Moscow. This meeting typical American. American clear, people blame the play- about the fate of the Russian soul and the Rus-
resulted in the decision to set theatre can be very superfi - wright. If the director allows sian national character. But for the most part
up a new public theatre, the An integral part of Russia’s cial. Many productions are ambiguity, critics complain. people are seeing a play about themselves. In
Moscow Art Theatre (MAT), Golden Mask Theatre Festival Dossier John Freedman came to Mos- staged simply so that at the They say he didn’t understand any country, after all, no matter how seemingly
which fi rst staged the work is the Russian Case, a cow in 1988 to research his end, spectators can say to what the play was about; prosperous, man has a hard time living with
of Anton Chekhov. The new showcase of Russian theatre dissertation for a PhD in Rus- themselves: “That was a bad spectators say it was bad. Rus- himself, with others, with society.
theatre’s first production for overseas visitors. It sian Literature. He discovered man in that play, thank God sia is the opposite: the art of
caused a sensation: Ivan features performances from a lot. He also found a woman I’m not like him.” Then they raising questions is greatest. Lev Dodin, artistic director of the Maly Drama
Moskvin acted in a way never previous seasons nominated he married and numerous pro- go home feeling pleased with Once I was in New York with Theatre in St Petersburg. Winner of the Europe
seen before. Critics struggled for the Golden Mask Award. fessional and personal oppor- themselves. To a certain de- the playwright Olga Mukhi- Theatre Prize and the Laurence Olivier Award,
to understand him, aston- John Freedman, theatre critic tunities. He is now an editor gree, theatre in the US plays na, working on the American Dodin has taught masterclasses in theatre
ished by the absence of “the- and Russian Case curator, and critic for Moscow’s larg- the role of a kind of moral po- version of her play YoU. There schools in Great Britain, France, Japan and the
atricalism”, intoning the talks about what can be est English-language news- liceman, just like bad Ameri- was a public reading, every- United States.
words “real truth” and “real expected at the Golden Mask. paper, The Moscow Times, a can movies. ART astounded one was thrilled and we kept
life” like incantations. After published author and trans- me. Because directors were hearing Mukhina was the
touring in Germany in 1906,
IRINA KORNEYEVA-LYUBSHINA
lator, and has often been putting on serious theatre. By new Chekhov. Chekhov was
the MAT became known as RUSSIA NOW tapped as an authority on the the same token I fell in love a brilliant writer, one of the They accused
the fi rst theatre of Europe, re- Russian language and theatre with Russian theatre because best. There was also Shake-
nowned for having opened a The Russian Case aims to send
PERSONAL ARCHIVES
by such media sources as ABC it tackles big problems. The- speare. But that doesn’t mean me of running a
new dramatic era. It was the as many Russian productions FROM and Newsweek. atre should encourage us to the English should all write
founder of the MAT who cre- abroad as possible, right? make discoveries. It should like Shakespeare any more political theatre
ated the famous “Stanis- The Golden Mask naturally disturb us. Rouse us. Irritate than Russians should all
lavsky system”, which has had hopes Russian theatres will us. Make us realise what sort write like Chekhov. In Amer-
a profound influence on sign Western contracts. After what’s going on here. There A lot is written about American of world we live in. I include ica and many other countries YURY LYUBIMOV
worldwide theatre develop- the fi rst Russian Case in 2000, are only a few Russian actors theatre. How does it differ from plays in the Russian Case there’s a misconception that
DIRECTOR
ment. The key element is 10 invitations were received. repeatedly invited abroad. Russian theatre? that operate on that level. Russian drama comes from
achieving complete psycho- But I got involved for other Russia has a lot more than In the States I did graduate Chekhov. I want people to see
logical reality. Today virtual- reasons. I have lived in Rus- those four or fi ve faces. I want work at Harvard, wrote my Did you take the differing ap- that in Russia there are dif-
ly all the world’s theatrical sia for many years, the thea- people to see what they dissertation on Russian proaches to theatre – Russian ferent types of drama, differ-
schools use its principles. tre is my world: I see up to 150 wouldn’t expect. I want peo- drama and attended one of and Western – into account? ent directors and different
Other names are prominent plays a year. When I talk to ple to go home having discov- the country’s best regional When I walk out of a theatre actors. And that Russian Artists today have got out of the habit of
in the Russian theatrical people from Europe and ered there are many interest- theatres, the American Rep- feeling I didn’t understand stage actors are among the serious work – they don’t put a lot of effort into
school. Leading the way are America, I’m horrified by ing new playwrights in Rus- ertory. I saw performances something, that means there best in the world. Maybe the creating their roles, and it shows. We’re living
Lev Dodin and Petr For- how little they know about sia. directed by Robert Wilson, was life in the performance. very best.
-
in a time when quality isn’t important, whether
in television, newspapers or theatres. But I run
a serious venture: the play The Good Person
of Szechuan has been on for 45 years, Tartuffe
for more than 40, and Sharashka, based on
London’s new
The Russian world in Ealing
Literature Celebrating a lasting poetic legacy
Solzhenitsyn’s The First Circle, for 11.
is certainly thriving, accord- I’ve lived through everything: Soviet times and
ing to Seema Kumar, deputy
Get ready for a feast
anti-Soviet times. But I consider myself a citizen
Russian literature
mayor of the borough, who of Russia and I live by its rules. I defended my
says only the City of West- productions, that’s all. I didn’t fight anyone, I
minster has a larger Russian
of Pushkin’s genius
didn’t try to persuade anyone of anything. They
resource
population. accused me of running a political theatre at the
It is therefore surprising that Taganka, but that’s not true. Look at my reper-
quality Russian literature re- toire – Dostoyevsky, Pushkin, Chekhov. I was
sources are difficult to fi nd in invited to stage Gorky’s Mother [a novel about
A library in Ealing in West publishing industry attend- London: there are few op- The Russian poet Alexander years, 117 authors from 46 Shakespeare’s fifth sonnet the birth of the revolutionary movement in Rus-
London is better off by nearly ing. Several of their books tions beyond university li- Pushkin is a man of countries have taken part in from Sonnets to the Sundry sia], so I thought about it and said: “OK, I’ll do it.”
800 books from Russkiy Mir are in the Ealing library. braries. A limited number of unparalleled influence on his the London fi nal. Notes of Music, as well as Then it was closed down by the censors. Next
(Russian World), a non-profit Titles were selected accord- books gather dust in grocery country’s national literature. A Pushkin and Shakespeare nine other translations of any the culture bureaucrats suggested Cherny-
organisation for teachers at ing to requests from language shops serving Russian cus- Since 2003, his popularity Round Table will be held on poets from any period. There shevsky’s What is to be Done?, a much more
Russian language schools schools, libraries, education tomers, but people are hardly has been reflected by the June 5, and an antiquaries is a £300 cash prize. revolutionary piece of literature. I put it on and –
abroad, thanks to the local centres, cultural societies and enticed. While a greater range ever-more ambitious Pushkin auction on June 7 will feature The festival programme also surprise – the public came. But the bureaucrats
Znanie language school, and universities. Russkiy Mir can be found in specialist in Britain Festival in London, objects produced before 1837 includes a poetry jam session, banned that too. They started making criticisms,
their links with the library hopes to complement the bookshops, prices are high. an event aiming to “bring the (the year of Pushkin’s death) a poetry marathon, picnics cutting bits out, cleaning it up. I said, that’s not
staff. books with a subtitled video Ealing library offered very beat of the Russian heart to and mentioned in his poem and a boat cruise along the right: Lenin said this work had stunned him.
collection comprising Rus- little before the donation. the UK”. Eugene Onegin. Thames – during which a po- One day, when I was working in Finland, Presi-
EKATERINA GODUNOVA
sian movies and cartoons. In addition to library space June 6 will see the seventh etic improvisation contest dent Boris Yeltsin sent me greetings there, and
RUSSIA NOW The foundation’s name helps for Russian books, a room has
FREDERICK BERNAS
International Russian Poet- will take place. the ambassador came to rehearsals at the
explain the Ealing donation been set aside for readings or RUSSIA NOW ry Contest at St Giles-in- Last year’s event was a re- theatre with his retinue. But the Finns didn’t
The new section of Ealing and its aim of promoting discussions. Perhaps Vladimir the-Fields Church, opened sounding success. “Pushkin understand this – they were worried about
Central Library is the first Russian culture abroad. Taty- Grigorjev, deputy director of The seventh annual interna- by the Russian rock band in Britain has become part of whether they should let the ambassador get
significant Russian-lan- ana Botova, deputy executive the Russian Federal Agency tional festival of Russian po- White Eagle. Competitors my life, part of the life of Rus- onto the stage or not. I asked: have they come
guage holding in a public li- director, explains that mir (as for Press and Mass Commu- etry and art coincides with will battle for the titles of sian writers and lately part of to arrest me? No, they’ve brought a bouquet. In
brary abroad; its opening in in Russkiy Mir) translates in nications, will now shake off Pushkin’s 210th birthday on King and Queen of Poetry. British life,” said Valentina that case, all the more reason to let them come
April featured children per- English not just as “world” his disappointment that, de- June 6. One of the highlights A new event, the fi rst Inter- Korkoran, a member of the in: we don’t want to damage our relations.
forming Russian folk danc- but also “peace”, “neighbour- spite the 300,000 Russians in is the tournament of Russian national Poetry Translations 2008 jury. Admission to all
es. The London Book Fair hood” and “community”. “Liv- London, there were no meet- poets outside Russia, in Contest, will be held earlier events is free, excluding the Yury Lyubimov is founder/artistic director of the
was in full swing at the time, ing in a community’ intrinsi- ing areas for those interested which participants are invit- the same day. Translators of boat trip.
-
Taganka Theatre, a cult in Soviet times. He was
with celebrated novelists cally means ‘living in peace’ in the country’s rich litera- ed to complete a Pushkin any nationality are required deprived of citizenship after a Times interview
and fi gures from the Russian for us,” she said. ture.
-
verse. Over the past seven to submit their version of www.pushkininbritain.com in 1984. In 1989 his passport was restored.
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