Students perform in Moscow
Having performed the first London staging of Black Snow, Central took the production abroad to Moscow, where the story is set. The trip was a unique opportunity for students, made possible by generous private sponsorship.
On 13 and 14 January, they performed the play at the world-renowned Moscow Art Theatre School; an interesting choice, since Black Snow is about staging a play at the same venue. Black Snow is Keith Reddin’s award-winning adaptation of A Dead Man’s Memoir by Mikhail Bulgakov. The director is Alan Cox, acclaimed actor and son of Emmy Award-winning Brian Cox.
Central has a long-standing relationship with Moscow Art Theatre School, though this is the first time that its students performed there. Every year, the Head of Central’s School of Professional and Community Development, Bruce Wooding, takes students there to work where Konstantin Stanislavski, Bulgakov’s contemporary, devised his actor training system.
International relationships like these are important for giving students unique experiences. In fact, the Arts Council has made Russia one of its areas of focus.
The trip made a big impression on Thomas Barron, the BA (Hons) Acting: Musical Theatre student who played Likospastov. ‘Forget the sepia tones of Three Sisters and the Communist buildings that tower over you and nod for your approval, Moscow is a city awash with colour, vibrancy, soul and taxi drivers that see you coming! Like a Gogol dream from a madman, we spent four hectic days in a Soviet haze. Whether it be performing on the Moscow Art Theatre's corridor stage, with its huge theatrical presence and warm Russian audience, or stopping in awe as we walked the Red Square at night, Moscow was quite an experience.
‘My favourite place was Bulgakov's flat. As you entered this literary genius's building, the staircase was spoilt beautifully with visitors’ graffiti, showing their appreciation of his brilliance, especially his masterpiece, Master and Margarita. One of my favourite quotes was translated by our guide as “Bulgakov....I'm a witch and I love it”! The eerie coincidence of this encounter was in the realisation by both our director, Alan Cox, and our designer, Fab Gorjian, that their minds had created exactly what Bulgakov had there at home. The conclusion was that Bulgakov had let his presence be felt from the very first production meeting on Black Snow!
I give my thanks, both for myself and my class, for this wonderful opportunity that was given to us by varied sponsors and people who worked tirelessly to make this happen.’
Read more about the play in the Moscow Times
