Changing of the ruling guard: what do the appointments of Khabensky and Bezrukov mean

The personnel decisions of the Ministry of Culture are aimed at overcoming two acute problems in the theatrical sphere. Konstantin Khabensky will take care of the stabilization of the situation at the Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Art Theater School at the Chekhov Moscow Art Theater, and Sergey Bezrukov will take on the task of restoring the Moscow Art Theater. Gorky Theater, which today is deprived of a full—fledged stage, technical equipment and sustainable creative activity. Izvestia, together with experts, assessed the prospects for new appointments.

Khabensky's new role

On March 6, Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova officially announced, writing on her channel: "Konstantin Khabensky has been appointed Acting rector of the Moscow Art Theater Studio School, continuing to head the Chekhov Moscow Art Theater."

The issue of the management of the Moscow Art Theater Studio School has become the focus of attention of the theater community after a recent personnel decision by the ministry. Earlier, director Konstantin Bogomolov was appointed acting rector of the Moscow Art Theater Studio School. However, two weeks later, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation announced that he was relieved of this position at his own request.

After that, the media began discussing possible candidates for the vacant position. Konstantin Khabensky, the artistic director of the Chekhov Moscow Art Theater, was named among them. When this information appeared in the public field, the reaction of the theater community turned out to be much calmer.

According to one of the top managers interviewed by Izvestia, such leaks are sometimes used to understand how the professional environment will react to a particular candidate. If the reaction is favorable, it only strengthens the officials in the correctness of the choice.

GITIS Rector Grigory Zaslavsky believes that Khabensky's candidacy is quite organic for this position. He recalled that the actor is a student of the outstanding theater teacher Veniamin Filshtinsky.

— He is one of the best teachers in Russia, a legendary theater theorist. And it is quite obvious that Khabensky can continue this tradition. Besides, he is a well—known figure for the teaching staff," Zaslavsky said in a conversation with Izvestia.

Konstantin Khabensky has been the head of the Chekhov Moscow Art Theater since 2021, replacing Sergei Zhenovach. Prior to his appointment, he was one of the leading actors of the theater for many years. In the fall of 2026, his employment contract with the Moscow Art Theater ends, and the Ministry of Culture will have to decide whether it will be extended or whether the theater will have a new head.

The second theater for Bezrukov

On the same day, the Minister of Culture announced another personnel decision — Sergey Bezrukov became the artistic director of the Gorky Moscow Art Theater.

His name was among the possible candidates for the position of rector of the Moscow Art Theater Studio School. Bezrukov is a graduate of this university. The actor claimed that he did not apply for this place because of his busy schedule: he runs the Moscow Provincial Theater, actively acts and teaches at VGIK. Nevertheless, it is he who has to deal with one of the most problematic theatrical enterprises in the capital.

According to experts, the Gorky Moscow Art Theater is currently in an extremely difficult state. When director Elena Bulukova came to the theater, it turned out that the stage was virtually devoid of technical equipment.

GITIS Rector Grigory Zaslavsky said that the upper machinery of the stage had been dismantled, lifting mechanisms and lighting devices had been removed, and there was no fire safety system.

One of the theater experts, on condition of anonymity, told Izvestia that it would take at least 2 billion rubles to restore the theater's infrastructure. Moreover, the management needs to pay off numerous debts.

— Now the stage is a bare reinforced concrete box. There are no shutters, no trusses, no spotlights. The troupe cannot work properly without the equipment," the source told Izvestia.

There are about 90 actors in the theater, but they have practically nowhere to play. According to experts, even if financing is found, reconstruction may take from one and a half to two years.

Today, the theater's activities are mostly reminded of tours. The most popular production is the play "Yesenin's Women". Artists perform with him in different cities of Russia and abroad. In January, the band played at the Central House of Officers of the Armed Forces of Belarus, previously the performance was shown in St. Petersburg and Novosibirsk.

Sometimes productions take place at rented venues in Moscow. According to the Izvestia source, in the near future the theater will enter into contact with the Kosmos Concert Hall, where it plans to play part of the repertoire until the end of 2026.

Despite the difficult situation, the troupe hopes for changes. At one of the last meetings of the troupe, Bulukova expressed the hope that with the advent of a new artistic director, the next stage of the Moscow Art Theater's development would begin.

According to one of the actresses, the team perceives Bezrukov's appointment with optimism.

— While the renovation is underway, he can produce performances with the artists of the Provincial Theater and play them on one of the stages in Kuzminki. This would save the creative process," she said.

At the same time, experts consider it unlikely that Sergei Bezrukov will leave the Provincial Theater. Over the years of his leadership, this venue has become one of the most popular in the capital: many performances are sold out, and tickets for them are sold out long before the screenings.

In the professional environment, Bezrukov is called an effective manager and artistic director. Now he faces a more difficult task — to actually rebuild the work of the historical theater, which is going through one of the most difficult periods in its history.