Alexander Lazarev Named Chief Director of the Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army
Alexander Lazarev has been appointed chief director of the Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army CATRA, according to a statement from the Ministry of Defense. The position at CATRA had been vacant since 2020, when Boris Morozov stepped down after twenty five years in the role. Lazarev now holds both executive duties at CATRA and ongoing commitments with Lenkom, signaling a combined leadership approach for the two major Moscow theaters.
Lawful confirmation of the appointment came alongside remarks from Lazarev’s family. His mother, Svetlana Nemolyaeva, a People’s Artist of the RSFSR, told the publication Paragraph that the family kept the appointment secret until the last moment. She noted that the family hoped Lazarev would lead CATRA and that supportive guidance would help him pursue serious creative projects. Lazarev has not publicly disclosed his precise plans for the new post.
Nemolyaeva described the moment as suddenly arriving for a person still in the energetic stage of life. She expressed her wish for him to succeed, acknowledging the challenges ahead. Lazarev himself told RIA Novosti that he would be working from two houses, balancing the responsibilities of CATRA with duties at Lenkom. He stressed his commitment to preserving theater traditions while broadening artistic horizons, without openly detailing future initiatives.
Earlier reports from Rossiyskaya Gazeta suggested Lazarev might lead the Union of Theater Employees. The suggestion came after his studies at the Moscow Art Theater School, where he benefited from a course taught by Alexander Kalyagin. Lazarev has since declined the union leadership, explaining that he could not take on such a heavy responsibility in addition to a new theater job. The Union later came under the direction of Vladimir Mashkov, the artistic director of the Oleg Tabakov Theatre, who took the helm after Morozov’s departure.
Alexander Lazarev Jr. comes from a notable artistic lineage. He began his stage career at age 12 with a role in the production Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk at the Moscow Academic Theater VI Mayakovsky. His early life included a screen debut as a schoolboy in 1980, followed by service in the Central Theater of the Soviet Army in 1985. He completed studies at the Moscow Art Theater School in 1990 and joined the Lenkom troupe led by Mark Zakharov, where he became a prominent actor of more than twenty principal parts and contributed to over eighty films.
Lazarev’s directorial work commenced in 2021 with a fresh staging of Funeral Prayer at Lenkom, adapted from the Grigory Gorin screenplay. In 2023 he directed Don’t Run, based on a stage adaptation of Mikhail Bulgakov’s work. His achievements include a Russian State Prize, the Moscow Government Prize, and the Stanislavsky Theater Prize, along with the Crystal Turandot prize. He has also been honored with the Order of Friendship, underscoring his standing in contemporary Russian theater.
In parallel discussions about CATRA’s leadership, Serbian director Emir Kusturica was floated as a potential candidate before the Northern Military District stage. The Ministry of Defense reportedly relayed that Sergei Shoigu, the defense minister, personally offered Kusturica the post, praising his talent and heartfelt craftsmanship. Kusturica reportedly held the offer in high regard but later indicated that he would not take on the chief director role. He explained that his plans would involve staging a limited number of performances rather than leading the theater long term. This clarified stance resonated with Shoigu’s understanding that Kusturica would contribute as a director commissioned for specific productions rather than assume overall leadership.
CATRA, formally the Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army, has a long history dating back to its beginnings near the Chinese border on February 6, 1930. The theater opened with a premiere and, by 1940, relocated to new facilities as the Central Theater of the Red Army. Since then, CATRA has produced hundreds of premieres and tens of thousands of performances, mirroring the theater’s expansive legacy. For decades the company was led by Boris Morozov, a People’s Artist of the Russian Federation, whose tenure included renowned productions such as The Drummer, The One Who Lives Forever, Wolves and Sheep, Molière, and Tsar Fyodor Ioanovich, among others, before Morozov stepped down in 2020.
Other candidacies considered for CATRA’s chief director role
When discussions about leadership were underway, speculation linked the position to prominent international figures. The possibility of Emir Kusturica taking the helm was reported by RBC, citing a Ministry of Defense briefing. The information indicated that the department head Sergei Shoigu personally approached Kusturica with the offer, lauding his talent and heartfelt contributions to theater.
Subsequent interviews with RIA Novosti revealed that Kusturica declined the offer, explaining that his involvement would be limited to staging a few performances rather than leading the organization. He clarified that while he would stage productions, he did not see himself as a long-term theater chief. The clear distinction between directing individual works and guiding a state theater helped shape the final leadership decision.
The Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army has grown since its early days, evolving from a wartime institution to a major cultural landmark. The theater has hosted more than 300 premieres and tens of thousands of performances, reflecting its enduring role in Russia’s artistic landscape. The leadership succession reflects a balance between honoring a storied tradition and inviting fresh artistic direction from Lazarev and other possible talents. This transition marks a new chapter for CATRA as it continues to engage audiences with a repertoire that spans classics, contemporary drama, and innovative staging.