The festive musical production Cheburashka unfolds in Moscow in a holiday showcase shaped like a towering Christmas tree. The premiere began on December 16 and runs through January 7, with official confirmation coming from the event’s press office. The setting captures the spirit of the season, drawing families into a luminous world where adventure meets whimsy amid winter lights and stage magic.
The creators describe a story in which the beloved heroes navigate a series of adventures that lead them to a chocolate factory, confront looming threats, disrupt the villainous plans of Shapoklyak, craft orange jam, and ring in the New Year with a shared celebration. The narrative threads together friendship, courage, and festive cheer as the cast weaves through challenges and triumphs alike.
The production integrates Cirque du Soleil performers, bringing vertigo-defying feats and precision artistry to the Moscow stage. Audiences are treated to a sequence of high-energy acrobatics, including jumps from a height of six meters, fifty somersaults in midair, Cheburashka moving along inverted lines at twenty meters, and skillful knife juggling. The show builds toward a finale that invites children and families into a dance party within the hall, turning the venue into a celebratory space where music and movement fuse with storytelling.
The musical leans on the story inspired by the film Cheburashka, a title that captivated millions of viewers. The director at the helm is Nina Chusova, a recipient of the Golden Mask theater award, whose leadership brings a blend of theatrical sensitivity and bold stagecraft. The production features fifty-two artists and performers who contribute to the vibrant tapestry of color, sound, and movement that characterizes the spectacle.
Staging duties are handled by the celebrated circus filmmaker and Cirque du Soleil soloist Andrey Koltsov, whose extensive experience in live performance shapes the production’s dynamic rhythm and daring visual language. The musical atmosphere is enriched by songs crafted by Sergei Zhukov, a renowned composer and music producer whose arrangements provide a melodic throughline that anchors the action while inviting audience engagement and songful participation.
In a recent mention, industry voices noted that pop stars Denis Lazarev and Emin Bilan would participate in a New Year’s duet for the show, performing with masks as part of the festive conceit. This appearance aligns with the show’s blend of contemporary pop sensibilities and traditional holiday enchantment, underscoring the production’s aim to appeal to a broad audience across generations.