Boris Godunov

Boris Godunov

Written by Alexander Pushkin
Performed in Russian
2000–2010

During the ‘Time of Troubles’ in Russia, the Tsar battles to suppress a dangerous impostor and his own conscience. Boris Godunov has gained power through bloody means – the murder of young prince Dimitri, son of Ivan the Terrible.

From ballrooms to battles, Pushkin’s lyrical masterpiece is a compelling exposé of the seductive appeal of power and the price that must be paid for it. Money, corruption, sex and blood thicken this sinuous and radical play, inspired by Shakespeare’s histories.

The first performance of this production was at Moscow Art Theatre on 15th June 2000.

A co-production between the Chekhov International Theatre Festival and Avignon Theatre Festival with the support of the European Association “Theorem”, Brighton Festival and La Filature, Mulhouse, France; in association with Cheek by Jowl

Additional support from the British Council, Moscow, British Embassy, Moscow, Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation and Department for Culture of Moscow.

“Tremendous and stirring… a splendid, bursting, mighty themed epic”
The Independent

Cast

Name	Character
Alexey Dadonov	Gavrila Pushkin / Shcheklalov, the Duma Scribe
Alexander Feklistov	Boris Godunov
Irina Grineva	Marina Msnishek
Ilia Ilin	Prince Vorotynsky / Russian Prisoner
Nikolay Khmelev	Father Varlaam / Karela the Cossack
Olga Khokholva	Owner of the tavern
Leonid Krasovitsky	Poet
Andrei Kuzichev / Evgeny Mironov	Grigori Otrepyev
Evgeny Plekhanov	Sobansky / Bailiff
Dmitry Shcherbina	Semyon Godunov / Prince Kurbsky
Oleg Vavilov	Patriarch / Yuri Mnishek
Igor Yasulovich	Pimen / Pushkin
Elena Zakharova	Tsarevna Xenia
Mikhail Zhigalov	Father Superior / Chief Bailiff / Catholic Priest / Basmanov

Creative Team

Role	Name
Director	Declan Donnellan
Designer	Nick Ormerod
Lighting Designer	Judith Greenwood
Music Director	Maxim Gutkin
Choreographer	Irina Filippova
Interpreter / Literary Consultant	Dina Dodina
Assistant Director	Evgeny Pisarev
Assistant Director	Anna Kolesnikova
Technical Director	Vladimir Kizeev
Stage Manager	Ekaterina Cheremina

Previous Performances

Date	Location
9–16 November 2010	Sceaux, Les Gémeaux, Paris, France
22–26 July 2009	New York City, The Armory, USA
27–29 November 2008	Bucharest, Romania
13–17 May 2008	London, Barbican, UK
6–10 May 2008	Coventry, Warwick Arts Centre, UK
29 April–3 May 2008	Salford, The Lowry, UK
29 November–2 December 2007	Hong Kong, Cultural Centre Studio Theatre, Hong Kong
5–6 August 2006	Rio de Janeiro, Fundição Progresso, Brazil
28–30 July 2006	São Paolo, SESC Pompéia, Brazil
December 2005	Brussels, Belgium
June 2004	Moscow, Russia
February 2004	Saint Petersburg, Russia
October – November 2003	Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
October – November 2003	Tempe, Arizona, USA
September 2003	Berlin, Germany
November 2002	Saint Petersburg, Russia
November 2002	Riga, Latvia
April 2002	Bogotá, Colombia
March – April 2002	Caracas, Venezuela
8–16 February 2002	Sceaux, Les Gémeaux, Paris, France
February 2002	Mulhouse, France
November 2001	Créteil, France
23–26 August 2001	Zurich, Festival Theater–Spektakel, Switzerland
July 2001	Avignon, France
June 2001	Warwick, UK
June 2001	London, UK
June 2001	Amsterdam, Netherlands
May 2001	Newcastle, UK
May 2001	Brighton, UK
April 2001	Moscow, Russia
February 2001	Pushkinskie Gory, Russia
October 2000	Ekaterinburg, Russia
October 2000	Chelyabinsk, Russia
15 June 2000	Moscow, Moscow Arts Theatre, Russia

Reviews

“A transcendent tale of all too earthly power. A sharp, rare double vision – of visceral intimacy and cosmic distance”
Ben Brantley, The New York Times

“Extraordinary”
Michael Billington, The Guardian

“Forceful fluidity… Vivid imagery… A rare moment of potent emotional immediacy.”
Sam Marlowe, The Times

“In a thrilling modern-dress version, it emerges as a mordant commentary on the instabilities of power and the repetitive nature of tyranny, and it crackles with edgy, topical relevance.”
Paul Taylor, The Independent