THE DOCTOR IN SPITE OF HIMSELF. Director Konstantin Raikin

Before the performance begins Konstantin Raikin, the artistic director of the theatre and director of the production informs the audience: “We you look into the performance programme don’t be mistaken by the number of actors involved. The play is performed by several groups of actors, but on stage you will see only three! Three actors starring in all roles!”.

Indeed the students of the Higher school of theatre arts of the Satirikon Theatre following the commedia dell’arte style play the roles of all the characters of Moliere’s “Doctor in Spite of Himself”, transforming in a wink of an eye and changing costumes in seconds.

 “We see a company of desperate actors, and theatre is their business. There is no coincidence that it all begins like a lesson of scenic movement or like a choreography class – three actors appear in black tights. In the prologue they stand in a circle – their circle of strength that empowers them with energy, heats up there emotions towards one another, allowing them to mock around on stage. Everything is allowed here: you may run, do summersaults, walk on your hands, and if not on the ceiling, then on the walls – for sure”.

From the article by Olga Galakhova “Stage, curtain, walls – all is for use in the business called theatre”