Vladimir Mashkov, artistic director Oleg Tabakov Theater

The artistic director of the Oleg Tabakov Theater speaks about the new version of the legendary performance "Matrosskaya Silence", the role that has become part of his life, the Stanislavsky system and the qualities of a professional.

The first premiere of the new season of the Oleg Tabakov Theater was "Sailor Silence" based on the play by Alexander Galich about violinist David Schwartz, who came from a Jewish town, his life, love, relationship with his father and death at the front. The drama, written in 1956, has been prohibited. Only in the late 1980s, Oleg Tabakov managed to stage it at the Moscow Art Theater School, and then, in 1990, in the theater basement on Chaplygin Street.

The performance, which eventually became a legend, revealed to the viewer not only the forbidden play, but also the name Vladimir Mashkov. The young actor played the father of the main character Abram Schwartz. Today, Mashkov, who headed the Oleg Tabakov Theater after the death of his teacher, is returning to this performance again - not only as an actor, but also as producer. He spoke about his version of "Matrosskaya Silence", the life of the theater without Oleg Tabakov and the most important task that is born in the auditorium, he told in an interview with the site.

- Return to the "Matrosskaya Tishina" today - a fundamental moment?

- This performance is the thoughts and feelings of Oleg Pavlovich Tabakov, which were carried through half of his life, starting from that performance in Sovremennik. It was his dream, he loved this performance very much. We have worked very hard and for a long time. And now, when it happened that I needed to take over the leadership of the theater and continue the work of a teacher, I wanted to return this performance in the form in which the master intended it.

There are two directors-producers of "Matrosskaya Silence" - me and Alexander Marin. Being on stage and directing at the same time is very difficult. You see, this is a team effort. The play features big actors, young actors, and very young ones - we have the widest range of actors here - from teenagers to very adults. The work is very tight, everyone works selflessly, and I am incredibly happy about this.

In 1958, the Studio of Young Actors, which had just been formed by graduates of the Moscow Art Theater School and teacher Oleg Efremov, which would become Sovremennik in the future, staged Matrosskaya Silence on the stage of the Moscow Art Theater. Efremov was in charge of directing, Igor Kvasha played David Schwartz, Evgeny Evstigneev played his father Abram. The run-through, which was attended by several hundred spectators, was a huge success, but the premiere did not take place. The production, touching on the acute Jewish question, did not pass the artistic council. Young actors, and first of all Oleg Tabakov, asked Galich to influence the decision of the commission, but nothing came of it.

- Did you set yourself the task of restoring the legendary production of 1990 or doing something new?

Nothing can be recovered. One can only assimilate the most important task - one for all. I remember the super-task that Tabakov set and which eventually disappeared. This play is not about death, but about life. Do you understand the difference? On stage, people who do not worry about their lives, people with a dream. The spectacle is a story about rearing times: 1929 - industrialization, when everyone was in a different world, big tasks were set, and many were swept away by these tasks; 1937, when everyone was at gunpoint; and 1944, when part of the country was destroyed. And yet life went on. Is always. People continued to live, love and go to the goal. To make a performance about this, about this life - such is the most important task. How this will be done is another question. It is impossible to repeat Oleg Pavlovich's performance. Our theater is alive.

- What are your thoughts on the role of Abram Schwartz today?

This role is part of my life. He is one of those settlers who live in me and change along with my experience. I have come now to the age of Abram. I was 24 years old when we started rehearsals. "Matrosskaya Silence" began as a performance of the Moscow Art Theater School-Studio long before Oleg Pavlovich transferred it to the stage of the theater. I was a third year student and it was extreme. The role required colossal life experience, and I did not have this experience.

Tabakov himself could play the role of Abram, and he would have done it brilliantly. But he saw Abram in a student and was pleased with how it turned out. Abram is a role for the fearless, as Oleg Pavlovich said. This is an image that allows the artist to get into the unknown, the most paradoxical, sometimes mutually exclusive internal conflicts and the brightest colors.

- How did you compensate for the lack of life experience necessary for the age role? Did you think of any particular person while thinking about Abram?

— Back in the 1980s, when we started working on the play, I started going to the synagogue and watching the people praying. I went to the markets, looked out for men of Abram's age, somehow transformed what I saw for myself. Oleg Pavlovich helped to find the external drawing of the role. Put on, he says, boots of size forty-five or forty-seven (and my feet are not very big), heavy clothes. And this uncomfortable suit immediately, as it were, broke my spine, buckled my legs.

But, in addition to the external drawing, the internal content was also needed. And here is the paradox. You know, I lost my parents early. My father was not a Jewish dad, he was Russian. He was strong, big, handsome, bright - in a word, not at all like Abram. But his love for me - naive, unconditional - was absolutely the same as that of Abram Ilyich Schwartz. Father's love, the desire to be proud of his son - all this was just there for me.

Vladimir Mashkov grew up in theater family. His father, Lev Mashkov, was an actor at the Novokuznetsk Puppet Theater, and his mother, Natalya Nikiforova, worked there as the chief director in the 1970s. Natalya Nikiforova passed away in 1986, the cause of death was a heart attack. Lev Mashkov survived his wife only a few months. Vladimir Mashkov was then 23 years old.

- This text by Alexander Galich generally plays a big role in your creative life. In the early 2000s, you filmed "Matrosskaya Silence", acting in the film "Papa" as both a director and a performer of the same role. Why did it happen?

— No, I would not call Matrosskaya Silence a text. It's too fancy a word. Some texts are being written now , and then ... Alexander Arkadyevich wrote it at a time when it was impossible to talk about it. It was a search for a special language that could reach the most insensitive people. Therefore, this is not a text, but a spell. Spell: love, be careful, do not miss life, live here and now, take care of your family, people who love you for nothing and for everything, just for what you are, cherish them. It's close to me.










- In the fall, you announced your decision not to recruit students to Oleg Tabakov's Moscow Theater School this year for obvious reasons. Is there any news today for those who planned to enroll this year?

- We stopped recruiting because it was necessary to reform the entire structure of the theater - to introduce a new repertoire, to set big ambitious goals. In general, the school works, and works quite actively. In September, we got an orchestra of drummers named after Evgeny Evstigneev, for which Pavel Bryun came up with the excellent name "Drumtheater". We have released four graduation performances, now Biloxi Blues is being prepared, the director is our wonderful actor and teacher Mikhail Khomyakov. The school is on the move - as Konstantin Sergeevich Stanislavsky bequeathed, the guys immediately go on stage. More than 30 students were introduced to the performances of the Oleg Tabakov Theater. Recently, for example, there was an introduction to Alla Sigalova's "Katerina Ilvovna" - in the first act, the guys show themselves brilliantly.

And this year there will be a new set, already in February we start watching ninth-graders almost all over the country. Our big tour will start in Tula, then we will visit Kemerovo, Vladivostok, Sevastopol, Kaliningrad and go to the homeland of Oleg Pavlovich, to Saratov.

- How can you characterize today's life of the Oleg Tabakov Theater, his school?

The theater is our home, which we love very much. Oleg Pavlovich liked to repeat one phrase: "The thing must be done, gentlemen." And we try to live by this principle. In a difficult situation in which the theater found itself, the city helped us a lot. The improvement of Chaplygina Street, where our theater is located, neighboring Makarenko Street, where the school is located and which leads to Chistye Prudy and Sovremennik, as well as Bolshoy Kharitonievsky Lane, is the first step towards the emergence of a theater district in the city.

Our basement (stage at Chistye Prudy. — Note.mos. en) we increased by 70 cubic meters, its reconstruction is still ongoing. A beautiful theater courtyard appeared on Chaplygin Street. As for the stage on Sukharevskaya, a mirror foyer has recently appeared here and the auditorium has changed ... I think Oleg Pavlovich would be pleased with the dynamics.

- The mirror foyer - was it your idea or Oleg Pavlovich's?

— It was my idea, but all the ideas that we have come from our experience, our knowledge. The viewer goes to the theater for the joy of recognition, meeting with himself - both Oleg Pavlovich and Stanislavsky spoke about this. I relied on this idea. Man needs a mirror.

The floors of our foyer (“Attention”, “Imagination”, “Feeling”) and the hall of “Assessments and Actions” – this is the Stanislavsky system. Therefore, it seems to me that our philosophy is clear. I can decipher it, of course, but it seems to me that it is more interesting for the viewer to get to some things on his own. In most cases, the most important task is born in the auditorium.




- You have repeatedly emphasized that the former Tabakerka is a theater without traditions. Why is this important to you?

- This is the phrase of Konstantin Sergeevich Stanislavsky: there can be no tradition in a live theater. A very important detail. The living have no traditions. You can't say how many apples should traditionally be on a tree. Nine? Hundred? Or maybe none?

What is tradition in theater? Well, let's say we decided that we would speak the words very loudly and clearly in our theater. Or do something like that with your hands all the time. No, It is Immpossible. Theater is a living thing, it's not a movie where I can say: "Stop, another take." Each time, artists must find live communication with a partner. Each performance is a discovery. Make the discovery a tradition? This is absurd. We have one tradition - live theater. And live theater is possible only without tradition.

- At the Oleg Tabakov Theater you combine the functions of artistic director and director. Is it difficult? Do you get into arguments with yourself?

No, I don't argue with myself. And I don't argue at all. Over the years, I have developed a quality that I develop in myself. If some offer comes in or some event happens, I don't accept it or reject it. I look into this carefully. I do not grab a template, a stamp - no, this is not necessary! I'm trying to understand and consider someone else's point of view.

Our theater is a professional theater. Our scene does not tolerate an amateur, she will crush him. We have identified the qualities of a professional, I will list the most important ones. Mindfulness, responsibility, efficiency, purposefulness, learning ability, entrepreneurial spirit, resistance to stress, self-control, caution, curiosity, sociability, awareness, desire to cooperate. Any professional and any professional team should test themselves for the presence of these qualities. When they are, the job is done.

People's Artist of Russia Vladimir Mashkov is one of the most popular actors in Russian cinema. "A truly great master who continues the best traditions of the Russian acting school. His work is distinguished by authenticity, subtle psychological characterization and selfless dedication. Mashkov is a professional the highest class". This characterization of Mashkov was given by the director

Biography

Vladimir Mashkov inherited his stormy temperament and bright appearance from an Italian grandmother who came to Russia to teach. Here she married and gave birth to a daughter, Natalya, Vladimir's future mother. Natalya Ivanovna in her first marriage gave birth to a son, Vitaly. Vladimir was born when his mother was married to the charming and energetic actor Lev Petrovich Mashkov.

In the mid-1960s, the Mashkov family moved to Novokuznetsk. Parents settled in Novokuznetsk puppet show: father is an actor, mother is a director. Most of Volodya's childhood passed behind the scenes of the theater. Volodya has always been the soul of the company, he played the guitar perfectly, was fond of Paul McCartney, Suzi Quatro. But at school, "Vovka studied disgustingly! - says his half-brother. - He changed schools because of "unsuccessful" behavior: either he grows long hair, or something else."

Nevertheless, after graduating from school, when the Mashkovs moved to Novosibirsk in the late 1970s, Vladimir applied to the biological faculty of the university. After studying at the university for a year, he left it and entered the Novosibirsk Theater School. Then there was the Moscow Art Theater School, where also at first no luck - Mashkov was expelled for a fight and continued his theater universities as a decorator at the Moscow Art Theater. Having missed a year, Mashkov graduated from the Studio School on the course of Tabakov. The meeting with became decisive in the fate of Vladimir.

Theatre

In 1990, Vladimir Mashkov was accepted into the troupe of the Theater under the direction of Oleg Tabakov. His first big role was Abram Schwartz in the play "Sailor's Silence" based on the play by Galich. After this work, the head of the Moscow Art Theater, Oleg Tabakov, said that an Actor was born. Among other roles of Vladimir Mashkov: Mayor in the play "Inspector General", Don Juan - "The Myth of Don Juan", Platonov - "Mechanical Piano", Ivanovich and Ugarov - "Anecdotes".

In 1992, Mashkov became interested in directing. As a director, he staged performances at the Tabakov Theater " finest hour local time" and "Passion for Bumbarash" (a play by Yuli Kim), and two years later - "Death Number" (Oleg Antonov).

"The theater is my life, and now I enjoy rehearsing with my colleagues, friends. And nothing could be more beautiful than this," Mashkov told RIA Novosti.

Cinema

In the cinema, Vladimir Mashkov made his debut in 1989 - in the film "Green Fire of the Goat". In total, Mashkov starred in about fifty paintings. The finest hour for the actor came in 1994, when he played roles in the films "Limit" by Denis Evstigneev and Then there were paintings and "The Thief", which received an Oscar nomination. In 2000, he played the role of Emelyan Pugachev in the historical film

"Russia 1"

Yevgeny Mironov is Mashkov's most important partner in Russia. Both - students of Tabakov, left the "Snuffbox". Their duets in the films "Idiot", "Piranha Hunt" and in the TV series "Ashes" always arouse the special interest of viewers and professionals. According to Mironov, Mashkov can always help, suggest in which direction to move.

In March 2015, viewers saw the series, filmed in the genre of a psychological thriller. The film tells about the tragedy of officer Alexei Bragin, who was released from many years of imprisonment. The officer is hiding something: perhaps he was recruited by the enemy. The film received very high ratings. The role of Bragin was brilliantly played by Vladimir Mashkov. "I was impressed by this man. This settler. I still can't figure it out to the end. He changes so often that I can't keep up with him," Mashkov said in the Vesti program plot, dedicated to the release of the series.

In 2016, the premiere of a new one took place - a remake of one of the most popular Russian films. The main roles went to Vladimir Mashkov. The producer of the picture, Leonid Vereshchagin, did not hide the fact that the involvement of the most popular actors in the work would have a positive effect on the box office. When editing the picture, all kinds of special effects, high-quality graphics, 3D format were used.

The action drama was released on December 28, 2017. In this film, the inimitable Vladimir Mashkov starred as the coach of the Soviet basketball team, which beat the "invincible" US team at the 1972 Munich Olympics.

The players of the team were played by young talented actors - Kirill Zaitsev, Alexander Ryapolov.

Hollywood

Mashkov was one of the first Russian actors to start acting in Hollywood, and with great success. His partners were such stars as Robert De Niro, Nastassja Kinski, Tom Cruise, Gerard Depardieu. Fanny Ardant, who starred in Rasputin, said that it was a great pleasure for her to play in Russia, especially in St. Petersburg, which was introduced to her by "the wonderful actor Mashkov."

Psychic abilities

Actor Vladimir Mashkov has psychic abilities, he predicts the future and heals with touch. During the filming of the series "Rasputin", his colleagues turned to the artist with complaints of a headache, he helped them get rid of the disease. This proves that Mashkov has powerful energy.

Love to the animals

Since childhood, Vladimir adored animals. Cats and dogs, birds and hamsters, rats and squirrels, and rabbits and turtles constantly lived in his house.

True, it is quite difficult to combine the acting profession with love for pets: for the duration of long-term filming, they have to be attached to friends or acquaintances. There are surprises. For example, an Australian cockatoo named Jack, who lived with the actor for several years, visited the Durov Animal Theater and met his love there - a large parrot with a beautiful pink tuft. Vladimir Lvovich decided to respect Jack's feelings and did not take the parrot home.

Personal life

In the first year theater school Mashkov fell in love with classmate Elena Shevchenko. A stormy romance began and in 1983 the young people signed. But the relationship quickly began to deteriorate. They were both temperamental, artistic natures. Shortly after the birth of their daughter, the couple divorced.

After a divorce from Shevchenko, Mashkov married the Moscow Art Theater actress Alena Khovanskaya. The marriage broke up after two years. Then the actor married fashion designer Ksenia Terentyeva. And this marriage did not last.

In 2005, 42-year-old Mashkov married for the fourth time. His chosen one was an American actress Ukrainian origin Oksana Shelest. Their relationship seemed perfect. Even Oksana's son began to treat Vladimir as his own father. But in 2008, Mashkov became single again.

Then there were rumors that Mashkov decided to get back together with his ex-wife Ksenia Terentyeva. However, the actor himself denied such information. According to him, he is no stranger to the fiction of journalists on the topic of his personal life. By the way, the actor himself claims that he was married only twice - to Shevchenko and Terentyeva. And the rest were only common-law wives. In general, Mashkov carefully protects his personal life from prying eyes.

Prizes and awards

  • In 1994, Mashkov received three prizes at once for the best male role in the film Limit.
  • 1997 - "The Seagull" award for staging the play "The Threepenny Opera".
  • 1997 - "The Seagull" award for the play "Anecdotes"
  • 1997 - Golden Aries Award in the nomination "Best Actor" in the film "The Thief"
  • 1998 - Nika Award for Best Actor in the film "The Thief"
  • 1998 - Film Festival "Baltic Pearl" - prize for a fast-paced career
  • 2001 - Moscow International Film Festival - Silver George Award for Best Actor in the film "Let's Do It Quickly"
  • 2004 - Film Festival "Window to Europe" - a prize for the best male role in the film "Papa"
  • 2004 - "Person of the Year" award of the Federation of Jewish Communities of Russia
  • 2008 - Golden Eagle Award for Best Actor on Television in the series "Liquidation"
  • 2008 - TEFI Award for Best Actor in "Liquidation"
  • 2008 - Prize of the Oleg Tabakov Charitable Foundation for the role of David Gotsman in the television series "Liquidation"
  • 2008 - FSB Award in the "Acting Work" nomination for the role of Lieutenant Colonel David Gotsman in the feature film "Liquidation".
  • 2010 - Golden Eagle Award for Best Actor in the film "The Edge"
  • 2010 - People's Artist Russian Federation- for great achievements in the field of art
  • 2015 - Professional award of the Association of Film and Television Producers in the field of television cinema in the category "Best Actor in a TV Movie / Series" for the role of Rasputin in the TV series "Grigory R."
  • 2019 - Golden Eagle Award for his role in the film "Moving Up"

Based on materials from sites: KinoPoisk, Vesti.ru, Russia1, StarAndStar.ru, RIA Novosti.

Filmography: Actor

  • Odessa steamer (2020)
  • Hero (2019)
  • Billion (2019)
  • Copper Sun (2018), TV series
  • Plaque (2017), TV series
  • Moving Up (2017)
  • Crew (2016)
  • Duelist (2016)
  • About love (2015)
  • Motherland (2014), TV series
  • Grigory R. (2014), TV series
  • Rasputin (2013)
  • Ashes (2013), TV series
  • Love for love (2013), TV series
  • Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol (2011)
  • Kandahar (2010)
  • Edge (2010)
  • Brownie (2008)
  • Liquidation (2007)
  • Piranha hunting (2006)
  • Peter FM (2006)
  • State Councilor (2005)
  • Dad (2004)
  • Idiot (2003)
  • Red America (2003)
  • Oligarch (2002)
  • American Rhapsody (2001)
  • Let's Do It Quickly (2001)
  • Behind Enemy Lines (2001)
  • 15 minutes of fame (2001)
  • Russian riot (2000)
  • Dancing in the Blue Iguana (2000)
  • Mom (1999)
  • Two Moons Three Suns (1998)
  • Composition for Victory Day (1998)
  • Orphan of Kazan (1997)
  • Thief (1997)
  • Twenty Minutes with an Angel (1996)
  • American Daughter (1995)
  • Limita (1994)
  • Moscow Evenings (1994)
  • I am Ivan, you are Abram (1993)
  • Alaska, sir! (1992)
  • Casus Improvisus (1991)
  • Love on Death Island (1991)
  • Ha-Bi-Assy (1990)
  • Do it! (1990)
  • Beast jubilant (1989)
  • Green Fire Goat (1989)

He graduated from the Moscow Art Theater School-Studio in 1990 (course of O. Tabakov).
From 1989 to 1990 he was an actor at the Moscow Art Theater named after A.P. Chekhov.

In 1990 he was accepted into the troupe of the Theater under O. Tabakov.
He played in the performances "Russian Teacher" (Popov), "Sailor's Silence" (Abram Schwartz), "Inspector" (Mayor), "The Myth of Don Juan" (Don Juan), "Mechanical Piano" (Platonov), "Jokes "(Ivan Ivanovich, Ugarov)," Biloxi Blues "(Sergeant Toomey).

At the Theater directed by O. Tabakov, he staged the performances "Hour of Finest Local Time" (1992), "Passion for Bumbarash" (1993), "Death Number" (1994). At the Satyricon Theater - The Threepenny Opera (1996). In the Moscow Art Theater - "No. 13" (2001) and "No. 13D" (2014).

Awarded them. K. S. Stanislavsky and the "Crystal Turandot" award ("Death Number", 1995). Twice laureate of the theater award "The Seagull". Multiple laureate of the Oleg Tabakov Charitable Foundation Prize (1995, 1999, 2008, 2011, 2014).

Played leading roles in more than 50 films. Among them are “Limita” and “Mother” by Denis Evstigneev, “Moscow Evenings” by Valery Todorovsky, “American Daughter” by Karen Shakhnazarov, “Two Moons, Three Suns” by Roman Balayan, “The Thief” by Pavel Chukhrai, “Russian Riot” by Alexander Proshkin, “ Oligarch" by Pavel Lungin, "Idiot" by Vladimir Bortko, "State Councilor" by Philip Yankovsky, "Piranha Hunting" and "Kandahar" by Andrey Kavun, "Peter FM" by Oksana Bychkova, "Liquidation" by Sergei Ursulyak, "Brownie" by Karen Oganesyan, " The Edge" by Alexei Uchitel, as well as in several Hollywood films (including the films "Behind Enemy Lines" and "Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol").

Director of the feature films The Orphan of Kazan (1997) and Papa (2004).

Movie prizes: "Silver George" for the best male role at the Moscow Film Festival-2001 ("The Quickie"); the prize of the Grand Competition of the ORKF Kinotavr in Sochi for the best male role (Limita, 1994), the Grand Prix and the youth jury prize of the IFF Stars of Tomorrow in Geneva (Limita, 1996), the Prize for the best male role at ORFC of the CIS and Baltic countries "Kinoshock" ("The Thief"), the "Golden Aries" award in the category "Best Actor" ("The Thief"), the "Nika" award in the category "Best Actor" ("The Thief"), "Blue sail” of the Russian Film Festival in San Rafael (“Limita”), “Silver Star” of the International Film Festival “Young Stars of Europe” in Geneva (“Limita”), TEFI and Golden Eagle awards in the nomination “Best Actor on Television ", as well as the award of the FSB of the Russian Federation for the role of David Gotsman in the series "Liquidation" (2008), the Golden Eagle and Nika awards for the best male role ("The Edge", 2010).

Since April 2018 - artistic director of the Oleg Tabakov Theater and the Moscow theater school Oleg Tabakov.

Oleg Tabakov about Vladimir Mashkov (from an interview in 2000):
“Volodya entered both life and the theater, knowing the negative aspects of both life and the theater. It was difficult to start, was expelled from school, returned again. But the fury of the desire to do their own thing overpowered everything. When he played the old man Abram Schwartz in Galich's play, it became clear that an Actor was born. He makes his directorial steps consistently and successfully, but I regret that he is not busy with acting work. This is a detriment both to art and to itself. He has very important roles that he has not played and roles that he has not played and properties of his acting abilities that he has not known. I see him in Zilovo in Vampilovskaya " Duck hunting', I see him in the role of Sateen in "The Lower Depths". He has to play it. And all the prizes and awards for directing - will not go anywhere. As a long-liver of the theatrical workshop, I can guarantee this to him. And I would also like to say that Volodya Mashkov is not who his fans paint him to be. I can see the hidden tenderness behind his toughness. That's the main thing about him."

The new artistic director of the Oleg Tabakov Theater (TOT), Vladimir Mashkov, opened the theater season with a gathering of the troupe, at which there was a small scandal. Tabakov's widow, actress Marina Zudina, left the meeting in tears, and the newly-made head removed her son from all roles in the theater.

"Snuffbox" opened its 33rd season. At the meeting of the troupe, the theater artists were informed about the upcoming changes in their work. So, Mashkov decided to divide the artists of the Moscow Art Theater. Chekhov and "Snuffboxes", which, under Tabakov, were involved in two theaters at once.

Marina Zudina did not come to the opening of the season at the Moscow Art Theater, but was present during the meeting at the TOT. It is possible that the actress left the Moscow Art Theater, finally moving to the "Snuffbox". According to backstage conversations, allegedly after the arrival of a new artistic director, they began to poison her in the theater. Chekhov. But it’s not a fact that the transition of the actress will really happen, since Mashkov removed Pavel Tabakov from all the performances.

The actress did not wait for the end of the meeting and left early. In an interview with the press, Zudina has already shared her impressions about the decision of the new artistic director of Snuffbox.

“Even if the theater is called the Oleg Tabakov Theater, this does not mean that Marina Zudina or Pavel Tabakov will always be involved. Pavel is actively filming, he has interesting projects. I also finished work in the series, this is an adaptation of the American series The Good Wife, ”said the artist.

The cultural community has long been discussing the innovations that Mashkov was going to introduce in the theater. Until recently, many thought that the ideas would remain unrealized, but the new head of the theater, apparently, decided to bring them to life.

Among the future changes in the theater is the unification of the troupe and students of the Tabakov theater school. According to the idea of ​​the new artistic director, this is necessary so that the acting artists feel unity with those who will join the troupe in the coming years. In addition, from this year, each course at the school will be assigned curators, each of whom will be personally responsible for their students.

Among other things, at the gathering of the troupe, Mashkov said that the Snuffbox continues to be modernized. In particular, he mentioned the contribution of the Moscow government to the development of the theatre. For example, in November the theater will open a unique space - a mirror foyer in the building on Sukharevskaya, near which will be organized Sun Square, where a sculpture of a giant atom will stand, and next to it is a sculpture by Oleg Tabakov.

“We are in full swing modernizing on Sukharevka, our historical basement on Chaplygin, and I would not have coped if it were not for Sobyanin, Pechatnikov. You and I have a unique opportunity - we have an empire that was created by the Master - Oleg Pavlovich. We are self-sufficient, we are adults, and our goal is one - success! And we have no other task but to become better, ”Mashkov said.

The Oleg Tabakov Theater opened its 33rd season not on the historical stage of the “basement theater” (as the founder himself lovingly called his offspring) and not on the new modernized Stage on Sukharevskaya, but in the chamber space of the Oleg Tabakov School. This is due to the fact that two venues are undergoing major repairs at once, and therefore, in the first half of the season, Snuffbox will play performances on the stages of other metropolitan theaters.

At the end of the gathering of the troupe, Vladimir Mashkov explained that the Stage on Sukharevskaya, although it was put into operation in 2016, the construction of the building itself “has not been brought to its logical conclusion. Shortcomings were found in it, the roof leaked, and therefore it was decided to turn to the builders again.

However, temporary inconveniences seem to be the only difficulty of the upcoming season, in which many premieres, events and, in other words, a lot of interesting work are planned.

On the threshold of the School, Vladimir Lvovich appeared under camera flashes - with a large red folder in his hands (later it will become clear that it contains materials carefully prepared for the opening of the season) and a read out volume of Stanislavsky. Moreover, Stanislavsky arose for a reason. Addressing the troupe and college students, the successor of Oleg Tabakov's work more than once referred to the outstanding founder of the Moscow Art Theater:

I've been waiting for this moment, - said Vladimir Mashkov, when the applause subsided. - Today is the 135th day since I am in this position. I wanted to see the hall, to make sure that this is how it should be - full of spectators and future artists.

Pay attention to the magic of numbers. As Konstantin Sergeevich Stanislavsky said, we must not forget about the magical "if". We are in our 33rd season. What a number! Independence. The 3rd season of our New Stage on Sukharevskaya and the 9th season at the School.

At the end of the season, I said that we are going to some kind of martial law, because we have to put everything on alert for a meeting with the audience. We are upgrading the Stage on Sukharevskaya. We are in the process of modernizing our historic basement. We also made repairs at the School and it is not for nothing that we open the season here.

As Konstantin Sergeevich Stanislavsky says, the actor is obliged to return to school every 4-5 years in order to correct his voice, and, as he put it, "to pick off the stuck shells from himself." It seems to me that our theater is one of the few where there is such a unique opportunity. We have a whole empire, which was created by our master Oleg Pavlovich Tabakov. This is the School, this is our Historical Stage on Chaplygin with our basement and the Stage on Sukharevskaya. And we also have Workshops that can dress you all up and make decorations. We have all. We are self-sufficient, we are adults. And our goal is one - success. Success in your life, success with the viewer, and we have no other task than to become better.

Oleg Pavlovich always said at the opening: “Our profession is tough, maybe even cruel. And even I, with my connections, cannot endow people with gifts or talents.

Indeed, acting is the most socially unprotected profession. Therefore, it all depends on you and, probably, on us - whether we can convey to the guys what we know, and whether it will be useful. Therefore, I really want and hope that the theater and the School will live as a single organism, enriching each other. I really want to activate the actors too: if you do not share your knowledge, your experience and skills, then you are selfish. So you are not interested in playing and working with good partners. Believe me, it's good to play with good artists. You are getting better. An inattentive artist can destroy everything.

I want Oleg Pavlovich's play "Biloxi Blues" to appear again, where students will meet with one of the great theater artists. And such experiments will continue with us. Only in this connection, it seems to me, will there be a correct existence.


In November, we plan to open our unique space - the mirror foyer. In it is an echo of that mirror space that was once in the Moscow Art Theater. It opened in the Hermitage Garden at the Mirror Theatre.

The mirror is an amazing thing. You know what Chaplin said: "I really love the mirror: it's the only one that doesn't laugh when I cry." We ourselves are like a reflection of our teacher in the mirror. Pay attention, they say: a mirror scene. The stage mirror does not reflect the world, but the viewer. And then we go to the actor, to his eyes, which should be a mirror of the soul. I really want to immerse each viewer in an atmosphere of attention to himself, to the space, to the worlds that surround us. For the opening of the renovated Stage on Sukharevskaya Square (November this year), a special show "Atom of the Sun" is being prepared, in which, we plan, there will be many miracles: we will show all the possibilities of our site, present the entire troupe and all the students of our School. This will be the first major collaboration.

By the way, please note that the bus stop next to Sukharevskaya Square is now called the Oleg Tabakov Theater. This is a great happiness. If nothing works out for us, and we destroy the theater, then the stop of Oleg Pavlovich will remain forever.



Next year is the Year of the Theatre, let's congratulate all of us. I really hope that our renovated basement and the new stage will open their doors in the Year of the Theater. Another dream of mine is to make Sun Square nearby on Sukharevskaya Square, on which there will be a huge atom of the sun and our teacher on a bench with the cat Matroskin. I am very glad that the wonderful sculptor Alexander Rukavishnikov is participating in this. He loved Oleg Pavlovich, was familiar with him and knows very well such a unique combination of his character: Tabakov is soft and hard. This is what gold looks like.

I also have a dream to introduce you to my close friend Fedor Konyukhov, our great traveler, who is preparing another trip on a rowboat. He will sail through Cape Horn. No one has ever passed there in a rowboat. In November, he will start from New Zealand on a solo voyage, and we will see him off, I hope, from the School. Because, it seems to me, he needs the cat Matroskin as a partner.

This is just a fragment of the speech that Vladimir Mashkov delivered at the gathering of the troupe. His performance was reminiscent of a one-man show - with its very intelligible message, with dramaturgy and, of course, intrigue, since the theater has many plans, but the actor has named only a few works so far. At the end of January, the play "Sailor's Silence" will return to the repertoire, in which Vladimir Mashkov will play the main role. “I consider it my duty,” the actor emphasized. “But I beg you all to help me. I haven't been on stage for twenty years. For me, this will probably be one of the most important tests in my life.”

Alla Sigalova at the end of February will present a new version of the play "Katerina Ilvovna" (Scene on Sukharevskaya), and at the end of the season - the musical My Fair Lady. In March, Sergei Puskepalis will release the play "The Russian War of Pectoralis" based on Leskov's story "Iron Will". In addition, the theater plans to stage the play "The Star Wanderer" based on the work of the same name by Jack London (directed by Alexei Mizgiryov). In addition, the performance “Biloxi Blues” directed by Oleg Tabakov will be resumed on the stage of the School with fourth-year students.

Towards the end, Vladimir Mashkov offered the students a game. Everyone pulled out a golden ball from a glass aquarium and read the name of one or another legendary artist.

“I really want you to become the guardians of this name and, over time, be able to answer the question: why me? An unknown regularity is no good here. It means you didn't find it. I want you to know everything about your stored, see everything that is possible with his participation, read, and then tell us.”

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