The Moscow Sovremennik Theatre announced a new production, Kvasha: What If? which adds a dramatic chapter to its repertoire. The play, directed for the Other Stage, is slated for a Friday performance according to the theatre’s press service.
The project honors the 90th birthday of Igor Kvasha, a pivotal figure in the theatre’s history, with February 2023 marked as a milestone. Kvasha: What If? draws on real events and spotlights the early founders of Sovremennik, including Oleg Efremov, Galina Volchek, Oleg Tabakov, Liliya Tolmacheva, and others. The creators aim to capture the youthful drive, energy, and unwavering commitment to forging a new theatre. The production blends live jazz with a 1960s atmosphere, rooted in Kvasha’s book The Turning Point and enriched by memories from colleagues, friends, and family members.
A representative from the press service noted that this season also commemorates the birth anniversary of Galina Volchek, a close friend of Kvasha, further anchoring Kvasha: What If? in the theatre’s contemporary repertoire.
The creative team comprises director Ivan Komarov, dramatists Polina Rashkina and Semyon Shomin, set and costume designer Olga Kuznetsova, and lighting designer Maxim Biryukov. The musical design brings together Stepan Azaryan and a group of musicians including Vladimir Dubrovin, Vadim Zaidin, Igor Ivanushkin, Violetta Slanskaya, Dmitry Slansky, and Elena Shemankova.
Among the performers on stage will be Gosha Tokaev, Ilya Lykov, Victoria Romanenko, Semyon Shomin, Svetlana Ivanova, Polina Rashkina, and additional cast members.
The play Kvasha: What If? has additional performances planned for late autumn and winter, with screenings on November 11, November 24, and December 24.
In related theatre news, the Sovremennik team continues to reflect on its storied collaborations and the enduring influence of its founders, presenting works that resonate with both longtime patrons and new audiences. [Citation: Sovremennik Theatre press service]