What to expect from the new theatre season in Nizhny Novgorod

      With the arrival of autumn, theatres have once again opened their doors to audiences. Especially for fans of the performing arts, the editorial office of NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" has prepared a selection of premieres for the upcoming theatre season.

      Theatre "Komediya"

      "Komediya" opened the new season with the premiere production "Khanuma" (16+). The director of the production was Alexander Kladko, who previously worked on the staging "Kasatka" based on A.N. Tolstoy's comedy.

      In November audiences will be able to enjoy "Allow Me to Come In!" (16+) by Nadezhda Kovaleva, based on P. Kuttler's play "Prisoners in the Snow".

      "Khanuma". Photo: comedy.nnov.ru

      The musical vaudeville "Chasing Two Hares" (16+), based on M. Staritsky's play, can be seen as early as March. The director will be Anna Feketa, a member of the Guild of Russian Directors and a choreographer.

      V.T. Stepanov Chamber Musical Theatre

      No new productions are expected at the V.T. Stepanov Chamber Musical Theatre until the end of 2025. But audiences will be able to see last season’s premieres — the world premiere of D. Lazarev’s musical "A House for Rent with Ghosts" (12+) based on the play "Ghosts" by the well-known comediographer Eduardo De Filippo, and G. Gladkov’s musical comedy "The Dog in the Manger" (12+) based on the play of the same name by Lope de Vega.

      "New for our audiences are the premieres of the New Year concert program 'Happy New Year!' (12+) in December and the festive concert for March 8 (12+). Each of these programs will be shown at the Krasnoye Sormovo Palace of Culture, the GAZ Palace of Culture and the Kremlin Concert Hall," — Nikolai Korovin, director of the V.T. Stepanov Chamber Musical Theatre, told NIA "Nizhny Novgorod".

      M. Gorky Drama Theatre

      The Nizhny Novgorod Drama Theatre will delight audiences with several premieres. According to the theatre’s official website, director Gennady Shaposhnikov is already working on A.I. Ostrovsky's comedy "Mad Money" (16+). It is the story of a cynical beauty who made a choice in favor of money — a mistaken choice that changed her fate. The premiere is scheduled for the first decade of December.

      In March audiences will be able to see a production (16+) by Anatoly Praudin based on Chekhov’s short story "About Love." The stage will unfold the well-known story about fears and conventions that prevented the lovers from being together.

      Theatre for Young Audiences

      "Oblomov". Photo: tyuz.ru

      On September 27 TYuZ will present "Oblomov" (12+). The director is Philipp Gurevich, and the adapter is Lara Bessmertnaya. This is a new take on the work, reflecting on the essence of the protagonist and his worldview.

      In October the premiere of "Deniska’s Stories" (6+) directed by Ivan Pachin will take place. The production also involves playwright Polina Korotych, known to audiences for the play "Barankin, Be a Man" (6+), and scenographer Maria Utrobina, who creates a special world with a Soviet aesthetic.

      Theatre "Vera"

      The new season will feature a significant premiere for Theatre "Vera". A team new to Nizhny Novgorod will work on it: director Denis Sorokotyagin, production designer Lyubov Moshkova and lighting designer Anton Litvinov. Together they will stage Chekhov’s "The Cherry Orchard" (6+) in memory of director Yefim Davydovich Tabachnikov. Premiere performances are scheduled for October 4 and 6.

      "'Everything in this world comes to an end...' — this line from 'The Cherry Orchard' most fully expresses the concept of the new production at Theatre 'Vera' as another attempt to understand the worlds of Anton Pavlovich Chekhov," — director Denis Sorokotyagin shared with NIA "Nizhny Novgorod".

      Center for Theatrical Mastery

      The concert-performance "Sinirema" (18+) can be seen on October 26. It was staged as part of the 2025 theatrical art residency in the yard of Nizhpoligraf. The director and composer was Ramazan Yunusov, who created an atmosphere of mysticism and magic on stage. The production is based on the tales and legends of the Nizhny Novgorod region.

      Director Elena Pavlova has joined the exploration of Nizhpoligraf and is already getting acquainted with the city’s cultural characteristics, the life of merchants and the chronicles of the 1980s–90s. All this will be included in the new production: "This time the work shown at the end of the project will be narrative, not experimental in form — as 'Sinirema' and 'Prequel' were in part," — the CTM reported on social media.

      Puppet Theatre

      The Nizhny Novgorod State Academic Puppet Theatre is preparing four premieres.

      In October adult audiences will be able to see "Nervous People" (12+), based on stories by M.M. Zoshchenko. The director is Ekaterina Urzhumova, chief director of the Volgograd Puppet Theatre. In winter audiences will be treated to the fairy tale "The Mysterious Hippopotamus" (6+) by Alexander Antonenko. In spring there will be the premiere of "The Wizard of the Emerald City" (12+) directed by Dmitry Markov.

      "We decided to do it in a steampunk style. In addition, we will preserve the original concept and story, but the play will be presented and told from Goodwin’s point of view," Dmitry Markov told NIA "Nizhny Novgorod."

      The season’s final production will be the work of guest director Konstantin Balakin from St. Petersburg, familiar to Nizhny Novgorod audiences for the production "The Queen of Spades" (12+).

      Theatre "Preobrazhenie"

      "News of the Leninsky District." Photo: the community "Theatre 'Preobrazhenie'" on VK

      The new season at Theatre "Preobrazhenie" opened with the premiere "The Jester’s Kingdom" (6+) staged by Alexey Pyatakov. According to the plot, a young girl suffering abuse from her stepmother and stepsisters attends a ball. But, unlike Cinderella, she does not meet a prince there. Only a kind fairy can help her save the kingdom from an evil jester who has seized power.

      On October 1 audiences will learn more about the city’s geographic center thanks to the performance "News of the Leninsky District" (12+), dedicated to the district’s 90th anniversary. The author of the play is Ivan Bocharnikov and the director is Yuri Ramenskov. A distinctive feature of the production was the participation of the district’s residents, who shared their stories, impressions and congratulations.

      A.S. Pushkin Theatre of Opera and Ballet

      At the time of publication only one premiere is known at the opera theatre. In early November premiere performances will be held of a production by director Sergey Novikov, who worked on Tchaikovsky’s opera "Eugene Onegin" in 2023. A new-to-theatre opera will be G. Verdi’s "Rigoletto" (12+). It is a story of sacrificial love, a curse and a fateful destiny.

      Author: Ksenia Yadrova

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