The annual audience award ceremony for theater excellence took place at the Vakhtangov Theater in Moscow on a recent Monday. The production of Zoyka’s Apartment, staged at the Pushkin Theater, earned the award for Best Performance, while Vladimir Pankov was singled out as Best Director. The ceremony highlighted a range of achievements across the season, drawing attention to the creativity and skill of Russia’s performing artists.
In addition to the top honors, several actors received recognition for their performances, including Evgenia Dobrovolskaya, Yulia Peresild, Igor Kostolevsky, and Ivan Yankovsky. The event showcased a total of eighteen awards. Seventeen of these were decided by online voting from audiences, while three awards—known as Stage Legends—were selected by the editorial team of Teatral magazine and later approved by the public council overseeing the award process.
At the Vakhtangov Theater stage, Vasily Bochkarev, designated as People’s Artist of the Russian Federation, received the Stage Legend award. Other recipients in this distinguished category included Lyudmila Maksakova, also a People’s Artist of the RSFSR, and Olga Yakovleva, who holds the title of People’s Artist of the Russian Federation. These honors recognized long-standing contributions to the craft and the enduring impact of the recipients on Russian theater.
The event also touched on notable shifts within the industry. One veteran director, previously associated with operations in the Army Theater after a period away, was noted for his subsequent plans to maintain a presence in multiple theater houses. Statements from the director’s family suggested a well-kept transition, while the artist himself spoke of continuing his work across venues without diminishing the integrity of either institution.
The ceremony closed with reflections on the state of theater and the occasional light-hearted moments that underscore the community’s warmth. It was acknowledged that the field continues to evolve, blending traditional stagecraft with contemporary storytelling to engage diverse audiences across the country. The occasion served as a reminder of the cultural significance of theater in Moscow and the broader artistic landscape of Russia.
As with many such events, a few inconsistencies in spelling or phrasing surfaced in post-event summaries, illustrating the human element behind live coverage. These moments did not diminish the overall celebration of achievement and the shared appreciation for talent across the profession. The awards portfolio remains a barometer of artistic excellence, with ongoing discussions about performances, directorial vision, and the enduring influence of theater on society [citation].