June 9, 2025
Russian theatre from Yerevan presents "Money. Passion. Power." at Chekhov Festival
The Chekhov Festival has hosted the first performance of "Money. Passion. Power." – an interpretation of Ivan Goncharov's classic novel An Ordinary Story. The production by the Yerevan K. Stanislavsky Russian Drama Theatre tells the story of a young provincial, Alexander Aduyev, who arrives in the capital, where money rules and passions destroy ideals and dreams, only to find himself drawn into a cynical game of greed and power. Director Suren Shahverdyan creates a distinctive theatrical aesthetic: frock coats and lace collars sit alongside social media messages and surveillance cameras. At the same time, playwright Nara Stepanyan remains faithful to the novel's plot and carefully preserves Goncharov's vivid language in the dialogue. The audience warmly received the cast at the end of the performance.
The performances are organised with the support of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of the Republic of Armenia. The production was created within the framework of the "Development of Cultural Dialogue" project, with financial support from the international cultural project "Russian Seasons". The partner for the Moscow performances is the Cultural Centre of the Armenian Embassy in Russia.
Two further performances remain in the schedule: 10 and 11 June at 20:00, on the stage of the Pushkin Moscow Drama Theatre.