The Moscow Art Theater faced a revealing episode as details of a recent controversy surfaced publicly. One notable figure, Gorky, was reportedly prevented from watching the performance Women of Yesenin due to tickets purchased with a Pushkin card. This account comes through reports circulating on mk.ru, outlining how the night unfolded and who was involved.
Inside the lobby, around 70 staff members and attendees stood at the entrance when a young woman agreed to speak with journalists. She explained that she had come to the theater with friends and had obtained tickets that allegedly originated through connections. One ticket, valued at 4.5 thousand rubles, had its price reduced to 2.8 thousand rubles and was purchased via the kassir.ru platform. At the security desk, the electronic ticket was scanned and the controller asked whether the ticket had been bought with a Pushkin card. The respondent did not know which card was being referenced and was questioned about their age. The controller insisted that entry could not be granted because the group appeared to be over the 22-year-old threshold and because of the card usage in question.
In the aftermath, it emerged that several individuals who lacked permission to view the show had obtained tickets through Telegram channels. One visitor stated that they called the police and filed a joint complaint about the incident, signaling that the situation extended beyond a simple gate check. The episode has sparked discussion about how discount programs and student cards are used in cultural venues, and how theater policies are enforced on busy nights.
The Pushkin card itself is described as a program intended for schoolchildren and students aged 14 to 22. Official information notes that tickets for performances range from roughly 4.5 thousand to 10 thousand rubles, creating a price spectrum that can influence how audiences engage with theater offerings. The unfolding events at the Moscow Art Theater have prompted questions about accessibility, eligibility, and the administrative steps required to verify age and card usage at large cultural institutions.