“Without Raikin, both students and teachers will run away”

People’s Artist of Russia Konstantin Raikin was dismissed from the post of artistic director of the Higher School of Performing Arts (Konstantin Raikin Theater School). The corresponding document was signed by the rector of the educational institution Anatoly Polyankin. Christian-Daniel Tikhonov, a student at Anna Ivanova-Brashinskaya’s workshop, told socialbites.ca that all students were “absolutely negative” about this decision.

“The main reason [увольнения Райкина] – their long-standing quarrel with the rector Polyankin, ”said Tikhonov.

In 2021, Polyankin sued Raikin, demanding the dissolution of the Arkady Raikin nonprofit Fund for the Promotion and Development of Culture. socialbites.ca wrote more about the essence of the conflict material “Behind the scenes: Raikin could lose his job for life due to a manager’s lawsuit.”

Already the lawyer of the former artistic director Valentin Petrov said that if Polyankin wins, all the real estate belonging to the fund can become the property of the Higher School of Economics. And LLC, recently owned by the sole founder of the school, Polyankin. The Moscow Ostankino Court rejected the claim. At the same time, last year Raikin’s name disappeared from the official name of the educational institution.

Polyankin summed up his view on the situation with these words: interview published on the GSSI website. socialbites.ca could not contact the rector. The Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation informed socialbites.ca that HSSI is not under their jurisdiction. In his previous interview, Polyankin emphasized that GSSI is a private institution.

Information about his dismissal from the post of artistic director was confirmed by Raikin himself. in the comments “Raising a child” He stated that Polyankin found this post unnecessary.

“He removed that name, he removed me, he removed the art director position. There is simply no such position. He doesn’t care what it is, he wants to get into his hands, like some kind of real estate, ”said Raikin.

– He is considered the rector, but he drew up a charter for himself that did not agree with anyone, he closed all artistic questions on himself, because he knows how badly both teachers and students treat him. It does not appear at all at the institute, has not seen a single study, has not been working for more than two years. He only manages paperwork, prohibitions and orders.

HSSI students also criticized the rector’s activities. Alexei Yarmushchik, a third-year student in the acting department, said that Polyankin’s presence at the school “made impossible any creative and educational activity.”

“The insults caused by the criminal power can no longer be tolerated: when he didn’t show our fathers and mothers to school, when he left the teachers without pay, when he fired the entire teaching staff of the school overnight, when he left the students without fire. food (at the moment the canteen is not working since April 1), does not give the keys to the audience, closes the stage, sends his men to fight us to dictate his own order, which contradicts the Russian decision. court, and most importantly, it just closes the school, ”Yarmuschik said.

According to the student, the only possible way for the development and advancement of the educational institution is to dismiss Polyankin:

“Please, if someone can influence Polyankin’s removal from all positions at Raikin’s Higher School of Economics, do so as soon as possible.”

Also, socialbites.ca quotes comments from students and graduates of the Higher School of Economics (and graduates of the Raikin workshop at the Moscow Art Theater School), provided by the student council of the institution.

Nikolai Balatsky, 3rd class acting faculty:

“The dismissal of Konstantin Arkadyevich Raikin is beyond the head. How can you fire a man from a place where he gathers, invents, organizes a team of the best teachers in the country? For 10 years of its existence, the school is on an equal footing with the leading theater universities in Russia. Konstantin Arkadyevich not only gave the school its name – he studied early in the morning almost every day with students of full-time and part-time departments. <...> Your heart bleeds when they try to take away your home and only fire the head of the family. The impossible is happening right before our very eyes.”

Oleg Tabakov’s film and theater actress Anya Chipovskaya graduated from Raikin’s workshop at the Moscow Art Theater School in 2009:

“I believe that such injustice and humiliation is unacceptable. Not to mention it’s just a crime in relation to school. Can a real rector do that? Or is he pursuing his own goals that are not related to his well-being?

Alina Gumirova, 1st class acting faculty:

“This is not fair! Including those who enter this school. Raikin’s school, not Polyankin’s… Or what other “new” name do they want to give Konstantin Raikin’s Theater School? It’s a kind of crime! Impossible madness! looks like! <...> You cannot allow Mr. Polyankin to dismiss Konstantin Arkadyevich from the post of artistic director! If that happens, I don’t want to stay, I can’t stay!”

Karina Andolenko, film and provincial theater actress, graduated from Raikin’s workshop at the Moscow Art Theater School in 2009:

“I am categorically opposed to the dismissal of Konstantin Arkadievich from the post of artistic director of the Konstantin Raikin Theater School. <...> Please put an end to this lawlessness and return Konstantin Arkadyeviç to the post of artistic director of the school he created.

Anastasia Gaidukova, 3rd year student of theater critics and playwrights:

“Removing the school’s artistic directorship is the same as closing it. And who is rector Polyankin? I saw him once in my first year. Instead of coming and talking to the students, the person gives an interview to himself and stops the learning process voluntarily. If he removes Raikin from his post, both students and teachers run away. Because the personality of Anatoly Evseevich does not attract anyone.

Anna Lifirenko, 3rd class theater critics and playwrights:

“Konstantin Arkadyevich Raikin is the creator and ideological inspirer of the Higher School of Performing Arts. It’s his brain, his creation, his strength, his nerves, his job. To deprive him of his own school is nonsense and nonsense, which is not explained by any logic, justice and law of justice.

Darina Lekomtseva, theater critics and playwrights, 3rd year student:

“For us, Konstantin Arkadyevich Raikin is not just an artistic director – he is a magnet, a riddle that all students want to solve and reach their level, study their means or be in the field of activity. Without Raikin, VSSI will be soulless. And if it doesn’t hinder the work of already strong and empowered students, then recruits need inspiration.”