Performance show in collaboration with the Obraztsov Theater
Exemplary Birthday Celebration
The task was to create an event to celebrate the universal birthday at the Obraztsov Theater.
The main idea was to showcase what keeps the theater alive today, the people who create it, and how Obraztsov’s ideas continue in the present day.
Discover what the Obraztsov Theater is like today
The project is built on conversations with people at the theater—those who typically aren’t in the spotlight: security personnel, artists, and administrative staff. It was important to capture the theater not as a monument, but as a living environment.
Concept Development
Initially, we conceived of the show as a new perspective on traditional puppet theater, with the script revolving around birthday rituals, which allowed us to organically connect individual interviews into a cohesive dramatic line. However, the final version became a performative, interactive show. We decided to move away from linear dramaturgy in favor of an experimental approach.
Form and Method
The show format transformed into a series of studies existing in a «here and now» mode.
This resulted in a series of fragments varying in structure and approach, all requiring mandatory audience interaction. Various storytelling methods were selected, based on the nature of the verbatim transcripts.
The show ultimately featured seven characters and their stories.
Photos from the «Exemplary Celebration Day» show
Raf
Raff knows the full names of all staff members and considers it his duty to ensure that entering the theater is a joyful experience for everyone. «A theater begins with a coat rack.» But what if the first person you meet isn’t the ushers?
This gave birth to the metaphor of the «human coat rack, ” which perfectly rhymes with Raff’s image—a gallant gentleman in a suit.
It merges human openness with the grotesque yet incredibly warm form of puppet theater, where even a security guard becomes a guide into a world of celebration.
Photos from the «Model Showcase Birthday» show
Rida
Rida is always on the move: organizing projects and launching inclusive programs—for her, theater must be open to everyone. In an interview, she shared how her colleagues once threw her a surprise birthday party on a train.
We turned spectators into fellow passengers. They sit in seats like they would in a compartment, wear little hats, and grab noisemakers—and together with the conductor, they create a rhythm that matches the moving train.
On such a journey, everyone becomes a co-creator of the shared celebration.
Photos from the «Model Showcase Birthday» event
Freya
Freya always carefully arranged the dolls and hosted tea parties for them. Within her were a gentle affection for the toy world and a sense of rigor: everything had to be «correct.»
We presented the audience with a game: small dolls and objects were scattered across the table, and they needed to stage a perfect celebration. Thus, Freya’s careful regard for the dolls and her drive for correctness turned into an opportunity for the viewer to become the guardian of this miniature world.
Photos from the «Exemplary Birthday Celebration» show