Published on: 2026-10-07
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
The N.V. Gogol Theatre is a place where canonical texts shed the dust of the school curriculum and turn into vibrant, relevant stories. If you are looking for deep reflections or aesthetic pleasure, we have prepared for you a selection of four completely different but equally captivating productions of the theatre.
“Hero of Our Time?”
A dramatic journey through the pages of Mikhail Lermontov’s novel
What happens if a modern person, confused and tired of life, suddenly falls through time and space and finds themselves right on the pages of a classic novel? Director Anton Yakovlev offers the viewer a fantastic experiment where the boundaries between eras are erased, and the age-old question of who controls destiny — the person themselves or blind fate — sounds sharper than ever.
A contemporary poet, experiencing an existential crisis, decides to end his life. But the fatal shot doesn’t become an ending, but rather a ticket to another reality. The poet finds himself trapped: he is transported to the 19th century, into the heart of Lermontov’s novel, where those around him take him for Pechorin.
Under the guidance of the mysterious illusionist Apfelbaum, the protagonist must live through the key scenes of the book. The ghosts of Mikhail Lermontov’s heroes will become living people for him, and the classic settings will become a reality in which the poet will have to make the final choice.
Tickets for the performance can be purchased through the service “Mosbilet”.
“Crime and Punishment”
A theatrical investigation of human nature
We are accustomed to perceiving Fyodor Dostoevsky’s novel as a philosophical treatise on conscience. But what if we look at this story as an investigative experiment, a psychological thriller unfolding in the labyrinths of a damaged mind? The play becomes a dissection of the human psyche, where memory tries to conceal the committed horror.
To get to the truth, 10 members of the investigative team step by step reconstruct the course of events and the motives of the crime. This is a gripping story about the hidden mechanisms that push a person beyond the limits of what is allowed. The director is Anton Yakovlev.
You can buy tickets on the service “Mosbilet”.
“The Picture of Dorian Gray”
A tragic phantasmagoria with a gripping plot
What does the disintegration of the human soul look like? It cannot be described with words — it must be shown through the fracture of the body, through music and light. Oscar Wilde’s mystical plot takes on a new form on the Gogol Theater stage, where contemporary dance replaces dialogue, and the image of the main character literally splits apart.
Director Konstantin Mishin creates a hypnotic performance in which the classical text is fused with movement. Contemporary European choreography serves as an extension of the characters’ thoughts, revealing their hidden desires and fears.
A special feature of the play is that the role of Dorian Gray is performed by four actors simultaneously, which vividly emphasizes the multifaceted and terrifying transformation of the character. The immersion into the dark depths of the subconscious is enhanced by live, pulsating music performed by Sergey Letov and Vladimir Nelinov.
Tickets are available on the service “Mosbilet”.
“Casanova. Tsvetaeva”
A poetic dialogue about the nature of love against the backdrop of devastation
Art often becomes the only refuge from the disasters of reality. How could a story about a passionate Italian adventurer be born in the cold, hungry, and frightening year of 1918? This play is a poignant tale about the saving power of imagination and how creativity enables one to preserve human dignity even on the edge of the abyss.
At the center of the plot is an incredible, imaginary meeting between Marina Tsvetaeva and Giacomo Casanova, the literary hero of her play. Their voices intertwine in a poetic dialogue about the nature of love and resistance to merciless time.
“Mosbilet” invites you to the performance “Casanova. Tsvetaeva” at the Gogol Theater
Eldar Tramov’s production is based on the plays “The Adventure” and “Phoenix,” as well as Marina Tsvetaeva’s diaries from 1918–1919. The audience sees a sharp contrast: a destitute life in an icy attic with two children — and a riot of colors in an imaginary world where love and freedom reign. Biographical truth and artistic fiction collide, giving birth to a poignant story about the saving power of art.
Tickets can be purchased in the service “Mosbilet”.
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