Arkady Raikin Satyricon Theatre

The progenitor of the Satyricon Theatre is the Leningrad Theatre of Pop and Miniatures, founded in 1939, which became known as the Raikin Theatre. It was a theatre with its own repertoire, a permanent cast and its undisputed leader. Born in the depths of the stage and preserving its individual generic features, the Leningrad Theatre of Pop and Miniatures gradually left the traditional multi-genre pop program. The original repertoire, the form of the performance, the sharp modernity and, finally, the unique personality of the leader determined his own and unique place in our theater culture. In 1982, the theater moved to Moscow, becoming the State Theatre of Miniatures. A large group of young people joined his team. Next to Arkady Raikin, another leader appeared in it - Konstantin Raikin. “I have always been critical of family life in production, but now I myself have fallen into this sin, but I do not regret it at all. My son receives a difficult family inheritance. As a permanent venue, the theater was handed over the building of the cinema "Tajikistan", built according to a standard project and completely unsuited for the activities of the theater. A great restructuring and reconstruction was required, and only on June 4, 1987, the first performance of the Satyricon Theater - Peace to Your House - was played in the new building. The name “Theatre of Miniatures” did not correspond to the essence of many performances of the theater, so the idea of a new name was born. Dictionaries specify the origin of the Latin word SATIRA (from an earlier satura) - "mixture, all sorts of things, a mess." Close in meaning the word "satura" was called the first ancient Roman theatrical genre - a combination of dialogue, pantomime, music and dance. This is the same “everything”, that artistic mishmash, which also has a precise orientation (hereinafter in the dictionaries): “cruel, scolding, mocking denunciation of human vices and shortcomings of life.” Konstantin Raikin: Why "Satyricon"? This is connected with the history of the Arkady Raikin Theatre. A world of satire and humor. In addition, there was such a magazine at the beginning of the last century, where Russian writers Zoshchenko, Teffi and others were published. “Satyricon” was in Petronius, where it was told in a comic and satirical manner about the life of Roman society. Fellini had a satyricon. We were attracted by the nebula of that name. No one really knows what it is, but I have a sense of the word. The root is clear: satire, but it need not be adhered to.” In December 1987, Arkady Raikin passed away. A whole chapter has ended not only in the history of his theater, but also in the history of stage art. The baton was taken by Konstantin Raikin. Having become the head of the theater, Raikin is looking for a new face for him, gradually forming a full-fledged dramatic repertoire. So, along with other performances, on the stage of “Satyricon” appear “The Handmaids” by J. Jeunet in the production of Roman Viktyuk (1988). The success was overwhelming. Sharply changing the usual course of the theater, Raikin won a resounding victory. “The Handmaids” became an event in the theatrical life of Moscow. With The Handmaids, the theater traveled to many countries, participated in prestigious international theater festivals. Thus began the new story of “Satyricon” named after Arkady Raikin. The theater inherited many generic features of its predecessor - efficiency, constant creative search, love and respect for the audience. Success is the result of all of the above. The theater gathered under its roof a unique troupe, which is subject to various genres. Therefore, the repertoire of the theater is diverse. Over the past fifteen years, Shakespeare and Moliere, Brecht and Kafka, Crommelink and Goldman, Goldoni, Rostand and Kundera, Murdoch and Suskind have played and played in Satyricon. Among the performances and directors who decorated the poster of “Satyricon”, it is necessary to highlight the “Magnificent cuckolder” F. Krommelink (1994) in the production of Peter Fomenko (State Prize of Russia to Konstantin Raikin, the “Golden Mask” award of the Union of Theatre Figures of the Russian Federation to Peter Fomenko, the “Crystal Turandot” prize of the Association of Culture “Muses of Freedom” Natalia Vdovina and Konstantin Raikin). “Transformation” by F. Kafka (1995) by Valery Fokina (together with the V. Meyerhold Creative Center) – the prize “Golden Mask” to Raikin and “Crystal Turandot” for the best performance of the season. "Hamlet" directed by Robert Sturois. In 1996, the theater carried out a grandiose project of the production of the Threepenny Opera by B. Brecht (director V. Mashkov), dedicating it to the 85th anniversary of the birth of its founder - the great actor Arkady Raikin. In 2000, the premiere of K. Raikin’s solo performance “Contrabass” by P. Zyuskind (regime E. Nevezhin). This outstanding acting work brought K. Raikin the second "Golden Mask", and still "Contrabass" - in the list of the best performances in Moscow. In 2001, on the stage of “Satyricon” there was a dramatic show “Shanteckler” based on the play by E. Rostand in the production of Konstantin Raikin. 2002 was marked by a new meeting of the theater with the outstanding Georgian director Robert Sturua. He staged a little-known play by Goldoni “Signor Todero Gross”. The theater changed its name to "Signor Todero Master", which is more consistent with the director's interpretation of the play. The title role was played by Konstantin Raikin. In 2003, the theater for the first time in its history turned to Russian classics. Konstantin Raikin staged the play by A.N. Ostrovsky “A profitable place”. Soon there was another play “Country of Love” based on his play “Snow Maiden” (Director K. Raikin). This performance became the hallmark of a new generation of artists “Satyricon”, who came to the theater the whole course after graduating from the School-Studio of the Moscow Art Theater (K. Raikin’s course). Young artists are actively working in the theater and today in the repertoire of three more performances with their participation. This is on the Big Stage “Ai da Pushkin...” according to the fairy tales of A.S. Pushkin and “The Case” by K. Goldoni (both plays are staged by M. Brusnikina) and “The Fool” by Lope de Vega (Direct R. Movsesyan) on the Small Stage. With great success are two performances staged by St. Petersburg director Yuri Butusov – “Macbet” E. Ionesco and Richard III by W. Shakespeare. In 2005, “Satiricon” carried out a joint project with the Pushkin Theatre and the play “Cosmetics of the Enemy” by A. Notomb (R. Kozak) appeared on the stage, where two artistic directors of two theaters K. Raikin and R. Kozak play. The 2005-2006 season opened with the premiere of the play Funny Money (Directed by K. Raikin) based on the play by English playwright Ray Cooney. Konstantin Raikin: The following can be said about the artistic principles of our theater. On the one hand, it is based on high drama, primarily on classics, a powerful energy attack on the auditorium. Regardless of the genre, very assertive, muscular, attacking, but not aggressive, action on the stage. On the other hand, a great love for the viewer. There can be no indifference towards the viewer or rejection towards him. Everything that happens on the stage initially is done for the auditorium and with love for it. This is a principled position for us, and its Satyricon is inherited from the Arkady Raikin Theatre. We work to be understood, to elevate, purify and enlighten our viewers. Therefore, we are a theater of great positive energy, at the same time a poetic theater, always striving to break away from everyday life, to get rid of it. According to methodology, we stand on Stanislavsky’s positions and do not abandon psychological theater, realizing that theater is impossible without a developed psychological range of human relationships and experiences, without the “life of the human spirit” on stage. Hence the principle of inviting different directors, who are necessarily close to us in spirit, in their sense of theater and life.” Today, "Satiricon" has become the leader of the audience's sympathies, all the performances go with a constant sold-out, which is largely due to their entertainment, brightness of productions. Despite existing, as well as all financial problems, the theater lives a full-fledged creative life, prepares new premieres, participates in festivals, goes on tour around the country and abroad.