The outgoing year will be remembered for both joyful moments and a deeply saddening event – the 30th anniversary of the International Chekhov Theatre Festival was overshadowed by the passing of Valery Ivanovich Shadrin, founder of the Festival and President of the International Confederation of Theatre Unions. Valery Ivanovich's life and work repeatedly demonstrated that, despite any circumstances and contrary to all difficulties, one can confidently pursue a cause that one loves – a cause so necessary to people and so important for the culture not only of a country but of the entire world.
Following the spiritual testament of Valery Ivanovich Shadrin, a decision has been made to appoint new leadership that will continue his life's work. These are his colleagues, like‑minded partners and kindred spirits – Mikhail Yefimovich Shvydkoy and Karina Sergeyevna Tsaturova.
Mikhail Shvydkoy will assume the office of President of the International Chekhov Theatre Festival, while Karina Tsaturova will become General Director of the Festival.
Brief biographical notes
Mikhail Yefimovich Shvydkoy
Doctor of Arts, Professor. Graduated from GITIS (Russian Institute of Theatre Arts – GITIS), specialising in Theatre Studies.
From 1998 to 2000, he headed the All‑Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company. In 1999, he was awarded the State Prize of the Russian Federation for the creation of the "Kultura" television channel.
From 2000 to 2004, he served as Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation; from 2004 to 2008, he headed the Federal Agency for Culture and Cinematography.
Since 2008, he has served as Special Representative of the President of the Russian Federation for International Cultural Cooperation, and Co‑Chair of the Interstate Fund for Humanitarian Cooperation of the CIS Member States.
Since 2011, he has been Artistic Director of the Moscow Theatre of Operetta.
Since December 2022, he has served as President of the Russian Television Academy Foundation.
He teaches at RATI‑GITIS. He is Academic Supervisor of the Higher School of Cultural Policy and Management in the Humanities (Faculty of Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov).
He is the author of the books "Drama, Theatre, Life" and "Secrets of Wandering Comedians", as well as numerous articles in Russian and foreign academic publications.
Television presenter. Columnist for Rossiyskaya Gazeta.
He holds state awards of the Russian Federation: Order of Merit for the Fatherland, III class (December 2022); Order of Alexander Nevsky (2018); Order of Friendship (2013); Order of Merit for the Fatherland, IV class (2008); Order of the Badge of Honour (1987). Laureate of the State Prize of the Russian Federation in Literature and the Arts (1999), Laureate of the Government Prize of the Russian Federation in Mass Media (2020), and others.
He has also received state awards from a number of foreign countries.
Through the efforts of Mikhail Yefimovich, his dedication and all‑round support, many highly significant projects of the Chekhov Festival and the International Confederation of Theatre Unions have been realised.
Karina Sergeyevna Tsaturova
In 1991, she graduated from the Moscow Financial Academy (now the Financial University under the Government of the Russian Federation).
In 1988, she was appointed to the USSR Union of Theatre Workers as an economist.
In 1991, she was appointed Chief Accountant of the USSR Union of Theatre Workers by Kirill Yuryevich Lavrov.
From 1992 to 1997, she served as Chief Accountant of the International Confederation of Theatre Unions (successor to the USSR Union of Theatre Workers and a founder of the Chekhov Festival); from 1997 to 2003, she headed the Financial and Economic Department.
Since 1993, she has been actively involved in the production and distribution of Chekhov Festival performances and co‑productions with leading theatres and directors from Russia and around the world.
From 2003 to 2010, she headed the City Programme Financing Section at the Moscow Department of Culture.
From 2010 to 2021, she served as Managing Director of the Regional Public Foundation for the Support of the International Chekhov Theatre Festival. On Karina Sergeyevna's initiative, the Chekhov Festival, together with the Regional Public Foundation "Chekhov Festival Foundation", began promoting Festival programme performances in the regions of Russia. In 24 cities across the country, more than 40 productions were presented. Audiences saw performances by outstanding figures of world theatre: Peter Brook, Anatoly Vasiliev, Declan Donnellan, Philippe Genty, LIN Hwai‑min, Ohad Naharin, Giorgio Strehler, Robert Sturua, Aurélia and James Thiérrée‑Chaplin, Daniele Finzi Pasca, William Forsythe, and many others.
Since 2017, she has been an Associate Professor at the Higher School of Cultural Policy and Management in the Humanities (Faculty of Moscow State University named after M.V. Lomonosov), where she teaches a course on festival management.
In 2018, she headed the organisation of the Chekhov Festival's international street programme as part of Moscow City Day celebrations.
From 2014 to 2020, she served as First Deputy General Director of the Chekhov Festival.
Since 2020, she has been Deputy President of the International Confederation of Theatre Unions.
From the very first days, Karina Sergeyevna has been actively involved in the organisation and development of the Chekhov Festival. Thanks to her professionalism, creative intuition and persistence, projects and initiatives that have become notable chapters in the history of the Chekhov Festival have been successfully realised.