The first theater to show its performance at the Vampilov festival was the "Workshop" from St. Petersburg

IRKUTSK. A theater festival dedicated to the playwright Alexander Vampilov, whose name has been attributed to the classics of Soviet drama for many years. His plays today do not lose popularity, taking their rightful place in the repertoire of many theaters in Russia.

The Vampilov festival, traditionally held in Irkutsk, was opened for the tenth time on September 20th, becoming an anniversary. Its beginning was traditionally a procession of admirers of Vampilov’s work, which began near the drama theater, and ended at the monument to the playwright, where his fans brought rowan branches, honoring the memory of the author of his favorite plays.

After laying the branches of a mountain ash at the foot of the monument, the procession returned to the drama theater, where a performance was held that evening, a landmark in Vampilov’s work. The “Eldest Son”, performed by the Workshop collective from St. Petersburg, was so expected by the audience that tickets for it were sold out a month before the festival.

Festival leaders say about this performance that the unique work of the Workshop actors successfully combines modern techniques of stage art with the traditions of the old theater school. For the sake of viewing this version of The Elder Son, some Moscow critics came to Irkutsk on purpose. "Workshop" is participating in the festival program for the first time.

Festival performances, among which surprises await the audience, can be seen on September 26th. Irkutsk theater-goers are awaiting with great interest the showing of the Mtsyri performance. Artists of the School of Dramatic Art will show this unusual production on September 21st. In the capital, even Muscovites find it difficult to get in - tickets leave instantly.

Each performance of the festival is interesting in its own way - the selection of participants was very strict. The festival ends with a theater from Yakutia.

Ludmila Trautmane © Gallerix.ru