Moscow Theater "Sovremennik" is famous from the first days of its creation. This is a unique school of life for actors and spectators. In theater performances only relevant psychological issues are resolved. Having visited the Sovremennik, theater lovers will be able to see the classical acting school on stage. From the very first performance, the theater corresponds to its name. The repertoire is based on the productions of contemporary authors.
History of the Sovremennik Theater
Moscow Theater "Sovremennik" was founded in 1956. It was a difficult time in the history of the country. In the post-war years, after the exposure of the cult of Stalin, he became the first theater to be able to take place as an art collective uniting like-minded actors.
The first actors of the Sovremennik Theater are the graduates of the Moscow Art Theater School Oleg Efremov,
Igor Kvasha, Galina Volchek, Evgeny Evstigneev, Oleg Tabakov. The debut performance was staged by
Victor Rozov’s play "Eternally Alive." Spectators and critics immediately noted the unusually strong cast. For the first time on the stage, life problems, hopes and sorrows began to be discussed. The feelings played and lived by them in the performances were understandable to every person in the audience.
The first artistic director of the theater was Oleg Nikolaevich Efremov. A talented actor graduated from the Moscow Art Theater in 1949. His teachers were Kedrov and Toporkov - students of the great K.S. Stanislavsky. Oleg Efremov possessed all leadership qualities and was a good leader who listened to the opinions of colleagues, welcomed independent work and motivated actors to engage in directing.
By the end of the 60s, the theater was famous for its talented collective and rich repertoire. The troupe toured a lot throughout the country, and in every city where Sovremennik came to, the auditoriums were crowded.
The crisis in the theater
In 1970, unexpectedly, a crisis broke out in the theater. This was due to the departure of the artistic director Oleg Efremov. He was invited to head the Moscow Art Theater, and with it the theater left some of the leading actors. There was a split. Moscow Theater "Sovremennik" was left without a leader and major artists. Many critics predicted a quick end to him.
In 1972, the troupe was led by Galina Volchek. Despite all the difficulties, the theater survived and did not close. It was difficult to restore the repertoire, but new talented actors, such as Marina Neyolova, Lia Akhedzhakova and others, who entered the main cast, joined the troupe. To resurrect the theater, Galina Volchek puts on new performances, opens unknown names, invites talented authors and directors to collaborate. She also draws attention to foreign literature. In new productions, the theater remains true to its principles - it continues to speak with the public in a modern language.
The cast of the theater
Since the founding of Sovremennik, the troupe has consisted of young and talented actors. Many of them combined work in the theater and acted in films. Today's team consists of wonderful artists of several generations. Their names are known not only in Russia, but also in other countries, since the theater tours a lot around the world.
The older generation of actors is represented by
Valentin Gaft, Leah Akhedzhakova, Marina Neyolova. The next generation is represented by Elena Yakovleva, Sergey Garmash,
Mikhail Zhigalov. Talented youth - Chulpan Khamatova, Olga Drozdova and other actors known to the contemporary spectator also delight the audience and remain faithful to Sovremennik. The main symbol and pearl of the theater is the incomparable Galina Volchek, who was able to raise the theater in difficult times and bring together not just wonderful actors, but a team of like-minded colleagues. All actors of the Sovremennik Theater are devoted to their work and the audience.
Performances of the Sovremennik Theater
The theater’s repertoire has always been based on the works of contemporary authors. A feature of Contemporary is the ability to make world classics relevant. Galina Volchek managed to put on new versions of the plays of A. Chekhov, L. Andreev, N. Gogol, F. Dostoevsky, W. Shakespeare, G. Ibsen. The repertoire of the Sovremennik Theater has never been divided into domestic and foreign performances. The directors paid much attention to foreign authors, such as Hemingway, Remark, Tennessee Williams and many others.
Moscow Sovremennik Theater is a favorite place for youth and intellectuals. For more than 50 years, a talented troupe has been pleasing the audience with excellent acting and magnificent productions.