Theater roof: Vladimir Mashkov initiated the Artist's Day

Audit, return of debts and property to the Union of Theatre Workers, new branches in the LNR and DNR, as well as preparations for the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Russian Union of Theatre Workers - these and more were discussed at the final meeting of the organization's secretariat. People's Artist of Russia Vladimir Mashkov, who succeeded Alexander Kalyagin, was elected its chairman a year ago. Valery Gergiev, General Director of the Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theaters, became co-chairman. About what the new team has managed to achieve in a year of fruitful work, the leaders told colleagues in the Moscow theater "Sovremennik". "Izvestia" learned the details.

Theater on Red Square

December 4 in "Sovremennik" to the final meeting of the Secretariat of the Union of Theater Workers of Russia came heads of regional branches. Everyone was waiting for the speech of the chairman, People's Artist of Russia Vladimir Mashkov. And colleagues were also wondering whether the co-chairman would come. This portfolio a year ago went to the head of two theaters at once - the Mariinsky and the Bolshoi, People's Artist of Russia Valery Gergiev. Despite his busy schedule, Valery Abisalovich came to the Sovremennik for the rehearsal of the evening performance of Boris Godunov with Ildar Abdrazakov.

The meeting was held behind closed doors. And after a break there was an opportunity to hear the results of the year and plans for the future from Vladimir Mashkov. One of the important events, preparations for which have already begun, was the 150th anniversary of the Union of Theater Workers of Russia, which will be celebrated in 2026. December 3 held a meeting of the organizing committee for the celebration under the leadership of the first deputy head of the presidential administration (AP) of the Russian Federation Sergei Kirienko.

As Vladimir Mashkov says, the anniversary will not only remind everyone of the importance of the theater in the cultural life of the country, but will also give impetus to the development of the STD RF. In the series of events there will be one, the most important. All-Russian marathon-festival of theaters of our country, which will be held on Red Square, will be the culmination of the celebration. The performance of artists, playwrights, artists, theater groups from all over the country. The number of participants is already impressive, so Manezhnaya Square will be given for the festivities.

The festival will be preceded by a railroad expedition across the country. One theater train will travel from Vladivostok, the second - from Sevastopol. The final point is Moscow, Red Square. In the cities along the way it is planned to organize creative meetings and performances of artists, performances of theaters of the region. This year the Union has grown three new branches - in Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics and in Khanty-Mansi Autonomous Okrug.

A gift from Mashkov

Vladimir Mashkov planned to present his colleagues with a professional holiday, namely, to establish the Day of the Artist in Russia. Members of the organizing committee supported the idea of the chairman of the STD. Although March 27 already celebrate the International Day of Theater, another holiday will not be superfluous.

- Its name was not chosen by chance: the writer Fonvizin gave a clear definition of how an actor differs from an artist - told "Izvestia" Vladimir Mashkov. - Actor - a talented performer, and the artist - an artist and creator. Not without reason there are titles of people's, honored. As the date we proposed January 17 - the birthday of the first People's Artist of the USSR, theater reformer Konstantin Stanislavsky.

Once an actress of the Imperial Theaters Maria Gavrilovna Savina on this day initiated already such a holiday. Theaters of Russia collected assistance for actors in difficult life situations. The proceeds from performances were given for a common cause - for the construction of the first House of Stage Veterans in St. Petersburg.

- And on this day we also propose to hold charity events to make it easier for our predecessors, - Vladimir Mashkov shared his plans. - This very unites not only artists and theater workers, but also the audience.

If the proposal is accepted, the first Day of the artist will be celebrated already on January 17, 2026. And on the International Day of the theater on March 27, 2025 will be awarded the first winners of the "Golden Mask", the founder of which was the STD. The 31st competition season will begin with a solemn ceremony of awarding special prizes. "Golden Mask" will be awarded traditionally in the Bolshoi Theater "For outstanding contribution to the development of theatrical art" and "For support of the theatrical art of Russia".

At the meeting of the STD raised the issue of support for theaters. A helping hand is extended to the Khabarovsk Regional Musical, which burned down in early October, and Mariupol Drama Theater. This year, targeted financial assistance worth more than 34 million rubles was provided to 663 members of the STD. Those who received it, as a rule, are people's artists who stopped their labor activity or colleagues who found themselves in a difficult life situation.

Sanatorium "Actor" in Yalta returned to the STD

Unfortunately, the biggest problem in the Union remains the property complex, with which many legal and economic issues had to be urgently resolved over the past year. For some objects, documents have been withdrawn or lost from the archives. Neither responsible persons nor executors could be found. Within the framework of the audit numerous enforcement proceedings are revealed, in many sanatoriums accounts are arrested and court proceedings are conducted on the fact of non-payment of large debts. The facilities have been brought to a dismal state.

Since the beginning of the year STD has closed debts totaling 68 million rubles. By the end of the year, debts for another 41 million rubles are to be paid off. These funds could go to the development of facilities or to increase funding for regional offices.

However, STD lawyers are forced to deal with litigation and payment of debts. They managed to regain full control over the sanatorium "Actor" in Yalta. To help the union came the AP, the Prosecutor General's Office, law enforcement agencies, the leadership of the regions.

Within the framework of the final meeting of the STD in the presence of all heads of regional branches, a ceremony of awarding prizes from the hands of the Chairman of the STD Vladimir Mashkov and Co-Chairman of the STD of the Russian Federation, General Director of the Bolshoi Theater Valery Gergiev was held. As a matter of principle, since this year they have been honoring young talented colleagues. In the field of drama theater for a significant contribution to its development noted actress of the Vakhtangov Theater Polina Rafeeva and artist of the Ryazan Puppet Theater, head of the project "SovremDrama" Sergei Sizonenko. Prizes in the field of musical theater for significant contribution to its development were awarded to prima ballerina of the Mariinsky Theater Renata Shakirova and conductor, founder of the chamber choir "Academy of Russian Music" Ivan Nikiforchin. The prize managed to make the award weighty from the point of view of its monetary content. Four laureates received 300 thousand rubles each. And at the end we congratulated the chairman. Executed exactly a year as Vladimir Mashkov heads the Union of Theater Workers of Russia.