Taganskaya story: legendary performances will not appear on stage

While some metropolitan temples of Melpomene solemnly announce the closure of the season and go on vacation, the Taganka Theater begins active work. On July 21, on the Main Stage, its director Irina Apeksimova informed the artists and journalists what they would do in the 63rd season. The playbill features seven premieres and the directorial debut of Daria Avratinskaya. At the same time, by the 110th anniversary of Yuri Lyubimov's birth, the theater does not plan to return his productions to the stage. Why the current director Irina Apeksimova made such a decision, about the new premieres and unexpected collaborations of Taganka — in the material of Izvestia.

Musicals and tragedies

Instead of an hour—long gathering of the troupe with long speeches, memoirs and a detailed analysis of the work front, a five-minute sprint race for the 63rd distance in the history of the theater. The artists had not yet had time to kiss their colleagues, as director Irina Apeksimova quickly entered the hall and, after posing for a short time, announced the news and plans to the photographers.

The theater will have to work without rocking. On August 4 and 5, the first premiere of "West Side Story" directed by Daria Avratinskaya will take place on the New Stage. This is the first independent directorial work for the actress.

— My debut is a natural, happy and not at all accidental accident. Besides, she's very responsible. The performance features a huge cast, a live orchestra, and incredible music by Leonard Bernstein. Moreover, we decided to combine Boris Pasternak's text — his translation of "Romeo and Juliet" — with the musical "West Side Story," Avratinskaya told Izvestia.

Initially, the play was to be produced by director Edgar Zakarian. But the project has changed along the way. Irina Apeksimova told Izvestia that her daughter's directorial debut was largely due to theatrical circumstances.

— It so happened that Dasha stood up for the play literally like a soldier when Edgar Zakaryan, for various reasons, could not realize the idea. She will make her directorial debut and appear on stage as an actress. I would really like to give life to this musical, because it is the pearl of the world musical theater," said Irina Apeksimova.

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Next, on August 14, Alexander Karpushin will present "The House of Bernarda Alba" based on the play by Federico Garcia Lorca on the Small Stage. The main role will be played by People's Artist of Russia Lyubov Selyutina.

After the summer launch, the theater will move on to large-scale winter premieres. In January, Andrei Goncharov will release "Crime and Punishment" based on Dostoevsky's novel. And Alexander Karpushin will show two more performances on the Main Stage — "The Divine Comedy" based on Dante and "Lear" based on Shakespeare's "King Lear". For the World Theater Day, Chinese director Yichen Liu will stage Carlo Gozzi's "Princess Turandot" on the Torchlight Stage.

And the season will close with another directorial work by Daria Avratinskaya — the play "June 31" based on the film of the same name and the novel by John Boynton Priestley with music by Alexander Zatsepin. According to the director, this will not just be another musical, but a fairy tale for millennials in the spirit of the Harry Potter story.

— We have conceived a real flight of fantasy and love for all millennials. I really want to make a fairy tale out of it, similar to "Harry Potter". But the plot of Priestley's "June 31" and the music of Alexander Zatsepin still remain at the heart," Avratinskaya said.

Composer Ivan Kushnir, artist Konstantin Solovyov and choreographer Nikita Vysotsky, who is currently honing the latest movements for "West Side Story," will once again take over the production.

"M.R.T." and "THC"

One of the main issues that inevitably arises on the eve of the 110th anniversary of Yuri Lyubimov's birth in 2027 was immediately closed by the director of the theater. The master's legendary productions will not be revived for the anniversary.

— It is impossible to return the performances of the director, who is not there. And there are no artists on whom this performance was made, either. The theater is a living thing,— Apeksimova emphasized in an interview with Izvestia.

Meanwhile, the young blood was allowed into the troupe. The team was joined by the winners of the Taganka project. Cast" by Milana Shirmanova, Valery Stepanov and Oleg Menshikov. In the spring, the theater will launch a new open-call to find artists.

Taganka will not limit itself to two musicals and will open "M.R.T." from the new season. Behind the medical abbreviation there are quite cultural words — "Music. Rehearsals. Taganka". It will be a series of concerts by contemporary performers followed by live communication with the audience.

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The stage on Torchlight will receive its three letters — "THC", which hides another project in partnership with the AST publishing house and the editorial office of Elena Shubina. According to the idea, the artists will read fragments of new books before their official release, hold presentations and introduce the audience to the writers, both figuratively and literally.

Taganka is entering the new season rapidly and confidently. Without nostalgia and with young creative forces. At the end of the official five-minute session, Irina Apeksimova decided to give the team one important message.: "Health, strength. Love each other, but not much. Be patient." And after the command "On horseback!" The Taganka Theater has officially started its 63rd running.