Taganka Theatre Moscow, Russia The Brothers Karamazov After F.Dostoyevsky Yuri Lyubimov Director The Moscow Comedy and Drama Theatre on Taganka was founded in 1945, with Alexander Plotnikov as its first Artistic Director. It became the universally known as 'Taganka' under Yuri Lyubimov, who joined the company in 1964, together with a group of young graduates of the Shchukin Drama School. Dramatized and directed by Y.Lyubimov Music by V. Martynov Designed by V. Karashevsky Direction by V. Ryzhy Cast: F. Antipov, Y.Beliayev (Feodor Pavlovich), S.Trifonov (Ivan), A.Tsurkan (Dmitry), D.Muliar (Alexei), V.Malenko (Devil), A.Agapova (Katerina Ivanovna), A.Kolpikova, I.Lindt (Grushenka) Other parts are played by members of the cast Yuri Lyubimov is one of the major figures among the innovators in today's theatre. He has staged over forty performances, which have become the classics of contemporary national theatre and marked the beginning of a new era in the history of Russian theatrical art. In evolving his own manner, Lyubimov drew on the traditions established by Vakhtangov, Meyerhold and Brecht. Lyubimov trained a galaxy of brilliant actors, with Vladimir Vysotsky as their lead. The excellent repertory that has been formed by the Taganka Theatre over the years is based on the classical heritage: ancient tragedies, Shakespeare, Moliere, Pushkin... It has also introduced its audiences to many works of 20th-century Russian prose, such as Bulgakov's The Master and Margarita, Trifonov's The House on the Embankment and others. A special place in the Taganka's history belongs to Lyubimov's productions based on Russian poetry - Pugachev, Listen!, The Anti-Worlds, Comrade, Believe..., The Perished and the Living. In 1997 Yuri Lyubimov celebrated his 80th birthday. In recognition of his contribution to national culture he was awarded with Russia's State Prize. The Brothers Karamazov has been the fourth work by Dostoyevsky staged by Lyubimov. Earlier he produced his Crime and Punishment at the Taganka, then The Devils with a British cast (as part of the European Theatre project, supervised by Giorgio Strehler), and The Adolescent in Finland. Crime and Punishment was also staged by him in Hungary, England, Italy, Austria and the USA. His London production received the top theatre critics' award. ¥ 18, 25 May Taganka Theatre Zemlyanoy Val, 76/21