The Russian theater is exploring new horizons. The first immersive theater was shown, in which there is no boundary between actors and spectators. The project was called “Black Russian”, an original play on the plot of Pushkin’s “Dubrovsky”. The location of the play was a mansion in the center of Moscow. The action of the play took place in different rooms of the building, moving between which, the audience could feel not only eyewitnesses, but sometimes full-fledged participants in the plot. Actress Yulia Yudina, who played one of the key roles in “Black Russian,” spoke about how the work on this experimental project went.
How did you prepare for such a performance, the action of which can unfold in the most unpredictable way each time?
The pre-premiere screenings of this performance took place in a rather nervous atmosphere. After all, we didn’t know what to expect. If the artists had a clear score of actions, then the viewer could behave in the most unpredictable way. So anything could happen. And according to the canons of dramaturgy, we know that we have a clear plot, within the framework of which each artist expects an appropriate reaction from his partner. Therefore, we thought about how we could empirically influence the viewer if something went against the storyline. It was quite difficult.
The actors and producers of the New York play Sleep No More came to us and gave us a master class in how to behave in such situations. However, we eventually developed our own model for working in such improvisational circumstances.
We discussed in detail the most extreme cases in which the viewer, for example, was too fascinated by Dunyasha in my performance. We discussed how to competently get out of such a situation without harming the development of the plot.
But even after we scrupulously discussed such situations, during the performance itself we had to improvise. After all, during each performance the audience was completely different. So the atmosphere itself dictated the course of events.
“Black Russian”
Has it ever happened that the audience began to participate in the action of the play, interacting with the actors?
One day, a spectator took the gun away from Dubrovsky and wanted to shoot his rival, who was vying for Masha’s hand and heart. So we had to pacify him a little and take him to the punishment room. And one day, spectators with heightened religious feelings came to the performance and began to baptize the characters in the play. In addition, there were people who got lost in the forest and pretended to be characters. And this is the merit of the performance: it created an atmosphere in which the viewer was maximally involved in the action.
Where did The Black Russian take place?
In the center of Moscow, on Tverskaya. Patrons provided an ancient and incredibly expensive mansion for the performance. In addition, equipment, costumes, scenery and salaries – all this together simply added up to a huge amount. That’s why ticket prices were high.
The producers plan to expand the show by organizing special themed screenings for certain holidays. That is, the performance is constantly changing. And this does not give the artists the opportunity to relax and go into some kind of recitation. “Black Russian” is constantly developing in some unpredictable direction.
“Black Russian”
This production has very impressive sets and costumes. Who is their author?
We have a luxurious artist Maria Tregubova. She made scenery for the Bolshoi Theater and other prestigious stages in Russia.
You say that thanks to “Black Russian” you get a unique acting experience. What exactly makes it unique?
Thanks to this performance I am learning to be free. There is a clear plot here, but there are no strict boundaries for the behavior of each artist. Here you always remain an improviser of your role. Therefore, responsibility for his role rests with the actor himself. Because it is very difficult to deceive a viewer who is 20 centimeters from your face.
I made my Dunya touching and at the same time sacrificial. She ended up as a girl with the vicious and demonic merchant Troekurov. To the very place where he often held orgies. Dunya is an honest girl, but fate decreed that she became a concubine. And nothing could be done about it. Therefore, Dunya decided to behave in such a way that Troekurov would treat her like a daughter.
And in the role of Porfiry, in contrast, I tried to be stern, tough, cold and even infernal. To match his master Troyekurov. And all this to get as close to him as possible. I tried to be present at all his orgies and get into all his secrets, so that later I would be able to manipulate him. That’s why Troekurov understood that he couldn’t offend me.
“Black Russian”
“Black Russian”, despite its experimentalism, became a very successful commercial project. The case is essentially unique. What is the secret to the success of this project?
This is the first immersive performance in Russia. Nothing like this had ever happened before in the entire country. And any person always has a passion for something new. It is also of great importance It was the place where the events took place. This is an old mansion, the interiors of which are complemented by spectacular decorations. In addition, Maxim Didenko, who created this project, is now one of the most fashionable and popular directors in the country. This is confirmed by a long list of his awards.