Jubilee 50th Season of the Moscow New Drama Theater: New Horizons and a Look into the Past

The Moscow New Drama Theater has ceremoniously opened its 50th jubilee season, unveiling ambitious plans and unique premieres. At the traditional company gathering in early September, the artistic director of the theater, Honored Artist of Russia Vyacheslav Dolgachev, highlighted the key points of the upcoming season. He noted that this jubilee year would symbolize not only historical continuity but also the search for new creative solutions.

One of the season’s major premieres is the farce-morality play “The Little Man” by John Galsworthy. This work, created on the eve of World War I, had never before been staged in Russia. Vyacheslav Dolgachev saw a special relevance in the play for the 21st century. The performance, which opened the season on September 14, focuses on issues of morality and humanity, placing the characters in moral dilemmas that remain pertinent even today. The main idea of the play is a reflection on the essence of human nature. In a world where national and social boundaries are fading, the crucial question becomes: who among the characters is capable of significant action, and who remains “a little man”? Galsworthy’s characters face a crisis that reveals their true nature against the backdrop of impending danger.

On October 6, the audience will be able to attend a jubilee evening dedicated to the Honored Artist of Russia Oleg Burygin. This evening, celebrating his 60th birthday and 30 years of work at the theater, will offer a unique opportunity to see the actor in a new light. A specially prepared revue, “The Unknown Oleg Burygin”, will reveal lesser-known facets of his talent and personal life, making this a true theatrical event.

In October, the theater will participate in the All-Russian Festival “Russian Comedy” in Rostov-on-Don with the production of “A Happy Day”, based on a play by A.N. Ostrovsky and N.Y. Solovyov. The plot of this work echoes Gogol’s “The Government Inspector”, satirizing bureaucracy and the political ambitions of officials. Like the classic characters, Ostrovsky’s figures strive for happiness but face the limitations of provincial life.

Christmas Surprises and Future Plans

The theater pays special attention to its young audience. For the New Year holidays, it will present the musical production “The Magic Power”, based on ancient Chinese legends, marking the theater’s 12th children’s production over its many years. Young spectators and their parents will enjoy original plays written specifically for the theater.

In March, the theater will premiere a production based on Vladimir Nabokov’s novel “Camera Obscura”. And on May 9, in celebration of the 80th anniversary of Victory, there will be a premiere based on Konstantin Simonov’s novella “Twenty Days Without War”, also commemorating the 110th anniversary of the author’s birth.

The jubilee season of the Moscow New Drama Theater promises to be rich and diverse. It continues the traditions of the classical repertoire while simultaneously introducing audiences to new names and original forms. The company has welcomed new actors, and each production demonstrates a high level of craftsmanship, confirming the theater’s status as one of Moscow’s cultural centers.