Published on: 2026-10-18
Source: Moscow Government – Правительства Москвы –
An important disclaimer is at the bottom of this article.
A good play doesn’t end with the final applause — it continues at a café table, in a subway car, in long debates with friends. When classic plots are turned inside out on stage, it’s simply impossible to remain indifferent.
Contemporary directors are increasingly less likely to offer cozy, canonical interpretations. Instead, they break the fourth wall, transplant ancient myths into the distant future, and immerse the audience in a whirlwind of complex questions. “Mosbilet” I have selected three performances after which you will definitely have something to discuss.
“Sweeney Todd, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street” at the Taganka Theatre
Stephen Sondheim’s immersive thriller on a Shakespearean scale
The first production in Russia of the legendary Broadway musical by Stephen Sondheim — winner of the Oscars, Grammys, and Tonys. Director Alexey Frandetti has abandoned the traditional Broadway lightness in favor of Shakespearean intensity and dark tragedy.
On a rainy night, a man returns to London who hasn’t been in the city for almost 15 years. Once he was called Benjamin Barker, a happy family man and skilled barber. But the corrupt Judge Turpin destroyed his life: he slandered him, breaking the fate of his wife and daughter Joanna. Returning as the fugitive convict Sweeney Todd, the hero opens a barbershop and begins to dispense his own justice, methodically destroying clients while awaiting the main encounter.
What to argue about after watching
The main point of discussion is the transformation of the hall and the boundary between retribution and blind madness. The theater space is completely rebuilt: the audience sits literally in the epicenter of London’s slums, feeling like witnesses (or even accomplices) to the unfolding nightmare. Does a victim of monstrous injustice have the right to become a monster themselves? Where does sympathy for a person with a broken heart end and horror before a maniac begin?
Starring: Pyotr Markin, Larisa Dolina, Ekaterina Ryabushinskaya, Darya Avratinskaya, Ekaterina Varkova, Ivan Koryakovsky, Konstantin Lyubimov, and others. Upcoming screenings will take place on October 22, 23, and 24; tickets can be purchased at the “Mosbilet” service.
“The Cherry Orchard” at the “Modern” Theatre
Plastic hypnosis and testing Chekhov’s emotions for resilience
About the production
Yuri Grymov’s premiere is timed to coincide with the 10th anniversary of the renovated Modern Theatre. The director preserves the strength and melody of Chekhov’s words but dresses the action in an extremely expressive visual form. Through unconventional movement, a lighting score, and textured costumes, the performance explores key themes: the collapse of the old world order, the illusory hope for salvation, and the fatal fragility of human connections.
What to argue about after watching
“The Cherry Orchard” touches on an eternal, yet today especially poignant question: who is really right? The helpless, impractical, but finely sensitive Ranevskaya, or the pragmatic Lopakhin, building the future on the ruins of noble comfort? The play does not provide a direct answer, confronting the audience with a dilemma: how to preserve humanity and warmth of soul in a world where everything rapidly turns into a commodity and a business project?
Cast: Lyudmila Pogorelova, Vasilisa Kashuba, Marianna Kanivets, Yuri Anpilogov, Vildan Faskhutdinov, Roman Zubrilin, Vadim Pinsky, Marina Dianova, Dmitry Bozin / Alexey Baranov, Alexandra Bogdanova, Petr Stupin, Evgeny Nevar. The next screenings will take place on October 28 and November 5 at 7:00 PM, tickets are available at the service “Mosbilet”.
“Space Wind, or the Marble Girl” at the Theatre on Bronnaya
Euripides’ Ancient Tragedy in the Realities of 2090
About the production
Konstantin Bogomolov refers to Euripides’ ancient Greek tragedy “Iphigenia in Aulis,” but transfers its plot to the futuristic reality of the late 21st century.
The year 2090, a world of technology, new laws, and scales, where human passions and rulers’ ambitions remain the same. The ancient conflict of duty, thirst for power, and parental love is placed in the context of a future civilization, creating a cold, hypnotic, and intellectually rich tapestry.
What to argue about after watching
Bogomolov is known for his skill in dissecting classical texts. Shifting the plot centuries forward makes one ponder: is technological evolution capable of changing human nature? Is the common good or the highest political goal worth the sacrifice of an innocent life? And has anything changed in society since the times of Ancient Greece?
Starring: Vera Arsich, Rustam Akhmadeev, Arseniy Veis, Dinis Gromakov, Bogdan Zhilin, Daria Zhovner, Yegor Kuznetsov, Diana Ogai, Anya Patokina, Evgeny Perevalov, Vasilisa Perelygina, Vladimira Petrik, Yana Stavorzhinskaya, Elena Stepanyan, Ivan Tarasov, Stanislav Kabanov, Artem Kurbatov, Elizaveta Zakaidze, Alexander Shumskiy. Upcoming screenings — November 6 and November 17, tickets can be purchased at the “Mosbilet” service.
Find out about performances, concerts, exhibitions, and other interesting events on the official “Mosbilet” channels in messengers “Max” and “Telegram”.
Please note; This information is raw content obtained directly from the source. It is an accurate report of what the source claims and does not necessarily reflect the position of MIL-OSI or its clients.