The director at the Novosibirsk theatre Red Torch, Alexander Kulyabin, who has steered the artistic institution for more than two decades, has been dismissed. This move was confirmed by the theatre through its press service, signaling a significant shift in leadership after 23 years at the helm.
According to the theatre, the decision to part ways with Kulyabin was finalized on December 23, 2022, and it came from the founder’s side—the Ministry of Culture of the Novosibirsk Region. The announcement underscored that the governance and strategic priorities of the institution would be reassessed under new leadership, with the theatre noting the change publicly to ensure stakeholders, audiences, and partners were informed in a timely manner.
In the interim, the theatre’s operational responsibilities have been taken over by Alla Zakharchenko, the director’s first assistant. She has stepped into the role to maintain continuity of programming, governance, and daily administration while a long-term leadership plan is developed. This transition period has been handled with an emphasis on preserving the company’s artistic mission and ongoing commitments to its performers, collaborators, and audiences.
Earlier in December, it was announced that several forthcoming productions linked to Alexander Kulyabin’s team would undergo changes. Specifically, performances featuring his son, Timofey Kulyabin, who is a director by trade and who has worked closely with the Red Torch in past seasons, were listed for January and February. The banners for the productions titled Onegin, Wild Duck, and Children of the Sun were removed from the schedule. The theatre attributed these cancellations to technical considerations, signaling a pause in those specific projects while decisions about future programming and staffing are finalized. The emergence of this scheduling shift reflects the theatre’s broader effort to balance technical realities with creative ambitions during a period of leadership transition.
Timofei Kulyabin, widely recognized for his provocative staging of Tannhäuser at the Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre, has been connected to Red Torch as chief director since 2015. He stepped down from that position in early 2022 and subsequently left Russia. His departure marked a notable chapter in the institution’s recent history, influencing how the company approached both repertoire selection and on-stage storytelling during the transition that followed. The interplay between his past work, the company’s evolving artistic direction, and the new leadership contours continues to shape Red Torch’s public profile and artistic ambitions as it moves toward the next phase of its development.