On September 25th, the exhibition project «Scene of Action» opened at the Manege, exploring the relationship between theater and the audience. The halls are painted in velvety blue, deep red, emerald green, and aristocratic violet, creating the illusion that you are backstage or inside a massive set design.
(No text was provided for translation.)
The exhibition spans both floors, each designed as a separate act. Despite the late hour, the space was crowded, but everyone spoke in hushed tones—footsteps and whispers were barely audible. The halls are dim, and the exhibits emerge from the semi-darkness through focused spotlights. Among the visitors were students and older attendees.
Here, we have gathered painting, sculpture, graphic arts, cinema, and even actual sketches of theatrical costumes and set designs. The works of St. Petersburg masters from various generations are displayed side-by-side: the academic Nikolai Akimov, the mystical carnival of Mikhail Shemyakin, and the ironic social art of Vladlen Gavrilchik. Much space has been dedicated to the history of famous productions, ranging from Fonvizin and Griboyedov to Gogol and Shakespeare.
A dedicated section focuses on Chekhov’s «The Seagull» and its theatrical destiny. The play flopped at the Alexandrinsky Theatre in 1896, and in 1898, it was staged at the newly opened Art Theatre, largely due to the persistence of Nemirovich-Danchenko. His words hang on the wall: «If you don’t give me ‘The Seagull, ’ you will cut me.» Displayed in the showcase are manuscripts, posters from both productions, and Stanislavski’s directorial copy of the play. Notes made with colored pencils are visible on the pages.
An interesting exhibition. You can’t get through it in one go, one of the visitor, a theater worker, shared. Everything on the first floor is so diverse that everyone will find something that matches their interests.
On October 7th, a lecture titled «Theatrical Impressions of 'The Storm'» was held at the Manege, presented by theater scholar Alexander Platunov. He discussed how Ostrovsky’s play continues to find new meanings on stage today. A large number of people attended to listen and ask questions.
The exhibition is open daily until February 14, 2027, from 12:00 to 9:00 PM on weekdays and from 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM on weekends.
This article was written as part of the course «Information Sources in Media Communications.»
