©  Alexey Kharitonov

Formerly an open rehearsal with trainees in the theatre’s studio

At the end of the 1960s, Shakespeare’s comedy “As You Like It” had drawn the attention of two friends, Yuli Kim and Pyotr Fomenko, who completely re-wrote it, leaving only one statement: “All the world's a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts, His acts being seven ages.” Yuli Kim wrote great songs, and the comedy was turned into a musical.

Once again, this is Fomenko we know and yet he still manages to surprise us. It seems, we’ve never seen a cocktail such as this: never has his melancholic sadness for the bygone world, culture and theater, as well as his grief and “mortal memory” had been so sharply conjoined with virtuoso theatrical freedom and rowdiness.

Alena Karas, Rossijskaya Gazeta

Opening night: January 5, 2009

Running time: 3 hours 10 minutes with one intermission

Ticket price range: 2000—20000 rub.