Love and Lenin

Scenes from emigre life

"Once, in rooms that the Ulyanovs had rented in Paris at a low cost, a translator appeared by the name of Elisabeth Armand. Those close to her called her 'Inessa.' In the way she carried herself and in her appearance she was a true 'French girl.' It may not have been possible to call her a beauty, but one thing was beyond any doubt - she was an alluring, irresistible woman and Vladimir quickly became very familiar with her..."

We know very little about how the Ulyanov (Lenin) family lived during their emigre period. We know more about what came next. The Masterskaya Theatre's play is an attempt to imagine the barrister's assistant Vladimir Ulyanov in a rented apartment in Paris. Those harmless theorists - how did they live? What were their daily life and holidays like?

The play's creators have made an attempt to recreate their everyday life in detail by breaking it up into possible episodes: Maxim Gorky's visit from Italy, a New Year's Eve celebration, ice skating. From such brief recollections a plotline has been established, the basis of which is the historical myth of a love triangle between Lenin, his wife and Inessa Armand. How would world history have changed had Ulyanov chosen love and happiness instead of revolution? We can only guess...

Running time: 2 hours with one interval

For audiences aged 16 and up

The premiere took place on 19 June 2015

PRODUCTION TEAM

Director – Roman Gabria

Write – Roman Gabria

Stage and Costume Designer – Sergei Novikov

Light Designer – Igor Tupikin

Choreography – Nikolai Kuglyant, Dmitri Genus

Musical Director - Grigori Uglov

Musical Selection – Roman Gabria

Sound Design – DJ Joy Pop (Dmitri Ivko)

The show's creators thank Ulyana Luchkina, Evgeny Perevalov, Mikhail Barsegov, Maria Sloeva, the Gorki Leninskiye Museum-Reserve and its director Igor Valeryevich Konyshev.