EINSTEIN
AND MARGARITA
"For ten years now
you're different every night
I feel like a Persian nobleman,
the owner of a large harem,
consisting of only you..."
you're different every night
I feel like a Persian nobleman,
the owner of a large harem,
consisting of only you..."
Based on on a true story
The history of the relationship between the famous physicist Albert Einstein and the Soviet emigrant Margarita Konenkova became widely known recently when letters from Einstein to Konenkova were sold at one of the auctions. These letters revealed to the world an incredible love story between a genius and a married citizen of the USSR, spanning ten long years.
Playwright Alexander Gelman, inspired by this story, wrote the play “Almar”, in which he included Einstein’s thoughts about nuclear weapons, hints from researchers about Konenkova’s espionage activities and a lot of true love.
The play “Einstein and Margarita” is not a documentary reproduction of the correspondence between two historical figures. This is a reflection on how events could have developed during the last meeting of heroes in fatal times for world history.
The premiere took place in June 2022. Since then, the production, in spite of everything, has always sold out on the stages of Russian theatres and successfully toured the world.
Playwright Alexander Gelman, inspired by this story, wrote the play “Almar”, in which he included Einstein’s thoughts about nuclear weapons, hints from researchers about Konenkova’s espionage activities and a lot of true love.
The play “Einstein and Margarita” is not a documentary reproduction of the correspondence between two historical figures. This is a reflection on how events could have developed during the last meeting of heroes in fatal times for world history.
The premiere took place in June 2022. Since then, the production, in spite of everything, has always sold out on the stages of Russian theatres and successfully toured the world.
>80
performances
since the premiere
since the premiere
>15
cities of the world
>85 000
spectators
A STORY ABOUT LOVE
AND THE ATOMIC BOMB
AND THE ATOMIC BOMB
He was one of the greatest minds of our time, and she was his love, who exchanged feelings for duty...
In 1935, the Princeton Institute commissioned the Russian emigrant Sergei Konenkov, who lived in New York at that time, to create a sculptural portrait of Albert Einstein.
The meeting of the physicist with the sculptor’s wife Margarita will lead to a stormy romance. They will fall in love with each other and will date for almost 10 years - first in secret from everyone, and then almost without hiding.
Margarita, who collaborated with Soviet intelligence, will make acquaintances with American physicists, famous scientists and politicians.
The romance would end in 1945, when, unexpectedly for Einstein, the Konenkov family boarded a ship and returned to the Soviet Union. Unable to accept the loss, Einstein would write love letters to his Margarita in Moscow for many years.
The meeting of the physicist with the sculptor’s wife Margarita will lead to a stormy romance. They will fall in love with each other and will date for almost 10 years - first in secret from everyone, and then almost without hiding.
Margarita, who collaborated with Soviet intelligence, will make acquaintances with American physicists, famous scientists and politicians.
The romance would end in 1945, when, unexpectedly for Einstein, the Konenkov family boarded a ship and returned to the Soviet Union. Unable to accept the loss, Einstein would write love letters to his Margarita in Moscow for many years.
It is August 1945 outside the window.
The US just dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Einstein, who escaped to America from the Nazis and the impending war,
is acutely worried about what is happening
and blames himself for his involvement in the creation of nuclear weapons.
On a quiet night in the modest home of a scientist in Princeton,
terrible words will be spoken
and a terrible secret will be revealed...
The US just dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Einstein, who escaped to America from the Nazis and the impending war,
is acutely worried about what is happening
and blames himself for his involvement in the creation of nuclear weapons.
On a quiet night in the modest home of a scientist in Princeton,
terrible words will be spoken
and a terrible secret will be revealed...
CAST:
Ksenia RAPPOPORT
as Konenkova
as Konenkova
Theater and film actress.
People's Artist of Russia (2015). Graduate of St. Petersburg Russian State Institute of Performing Arts (course of V. M. Filshtinsky). Since 2000, she has been a member of the troupe of the “Maly Drama Theatre” – “Theatre of Europe” in St. Petersburg.
During her career she played more than 70 roles in theater and cinema.
She has acted in films and TV serials in Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Israel, France and more than 10 projects in Italy.
Winner of the “Volpi Cup” of the Venice Film Festival, awards from the “Golden Eagle” and “Kinotavr” film festivals, multiple nominee for the “Golden Mask” theater award and Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy.
People's Artist of Russia (2015). Graduate of St. Petersburg Russian State Institute of Performing Arts (course of V. M. Filshtinsky). Since 2000, she has been a member of the troupe of the “Maly Drama Theatre” – “Theatre of Europe” in St. Petersburg.
During her career she played more than 70 roles in theater and cinema.
She has acted in films and TV serials in Lithuania, the Czech Republic, Israel, France and more than 10 projects in Italy.
Winner of the “Volpi Cup” of the Venice Film Festival, awards from the “Golden Eagle” and “Kinotavr” film festivals, multiple nominee for the “Golden Mask” theater award and Knight of the Order of the Star of Italy.
Alexey SEREBRYAKOV
as Einstein
as Einstein
Theater and film actor.
People's Artist of Russia (2010). In 1986 he graduated from GITIS (course of Oleg Tabakov), after which he was accepted into the Studio Theatre under the direction of Oleg Tabakov.
From an early age he acted a lot in films, gained national fame at the beginning 2000s after the release of the television series “Gangster Petersburg” and “Penal Battalion”.
He has played about 150 roles in film and theatre, and is a multiple nominee and winner of awards at prestigious film festivals.
He has acted in films and television series in the USA, Great Britain, Canada, Poland and Switzerland.
People's Artist of Russia (2010). In 1986 he graduated from GITIS (course of Oleg Tabakov), after which he was accepted into the Studio Theatre under the direction of Oleg Tabakov.
From an early age he acted a lot in films, gained national fame at the beginning 2000s after the release of the television series “Gangster Petersburg” and “Penal Battalion”.
He has played about 150 roles in film and theatre, and is a multiple nominee and winner of awards at prestigious film festivals.
He has acted in films and television series in the USA, Great Britain, Canada, Poland and Switzerland.
REVIEWS:
- Arina Borodina (journalist, TV commentator):This is a wonderful performance, intensive and dynamic, action of the play and scenography. Great costumes, transforming table - everything lives and works. And how Rappoport washes Serebryakov’s hair right on stage, and how they dance! Love is stronger than death and you can hear it in this performance. The end is predictable, there is no choice here. The personal and the general are closely intertwined here...
- Alena Khmelnitskaya (theatre and film actress):The performance based on the play by Alexander Gelman is about love and the atomic bomb, but much more about love. My beloved Lesha and Ksyusha, the best, talented and real, I sincerely congratulate you and thank you for this performance! It’s so poignant, and most importantly, it’s about love!
- Anna Samsonenko (theatre critic, St. Petersburg Theatre Journal):There are no epic events or grandiose disasters in the play. Bombs don't explode. It seems that even the intrigue has been removed - will Margarita leave or not? There is a feeling that farewell will take place, the door will slam shut, that nothing can be fixed, nothing can be changed - a premonition hovers between the spectators and the stage. But the viewer came for this, precisely for this: to enjoy the torment of this intrigue for two hours аnd the happiness of the last meeting, which is a lifetime. Maybe Margarita won’t leave after all? The actors have two hours to give the audience their theatrical happiness.
- Irina (review on ticketland.ru):The performance is great. And the production, and the acting, and Einstein himself. He is, of course, a great genius and Serebryakov managed to convey this genius. The play is about a love story, big politics and a brilliant scientist. Highly recommend. The performance is so powerful! Sometimes I was afraid to breathe so I would not miss anything. Tickets are expensive, but the performance is definitely worth it.
- Valeria Stenkina (opera singer):I went to the performance with a secret thought: I wish I like it! I love these actors from their films; I’ve seen Rappoport live several times, but Serebryakov - never. What if it's not that? The artist went on stage - phew, relief. Real! Took it and led it. With guts and content. A master of the old school!.. Both the theme and the staging, even the changing of clothes, intimate moments without an ounce of vulgarity, beautifully choreographed dance, monologues of the characters, a great ending, music - everything is good in this performance.
- Nikolai Travkin (politician, deputy of the State Duma in 1994-2003):The play is about the fact that geniuses are also people and they also love and suffer. Moreover, about the threat of nuclear war, which is felt perhaps more acutely today than 77 years ago. It seems, is quite enough for a full house and success. Ksenia Rappoport with Alexey Serebryakov on stage for 1 hour 45 minutes...
Of course, theatre critics will say their word, chew it up and sort it out. My impression is that I have never seen a more powerful theatrical production.
CREATORS:
ALEXANDER GELMAN
Playwright
Playwright
Famous Soviet and Russian playwright. He became widely known after the release of the film “The Prize” in 1974, the script of which was reworked by the author into the play “A protocol of a meeting”. Performances based on his plays were staged throughout the Soviet Union and in theatres in more than thirty countries.
The most famous of them are “Feedback” (1977), “We, the Undersigned” (1978), “Bench” (1983). Gelman is a laureate of the USSR State Prize (1976) and the national theatre award “Golden Mask” (2019) for his outstanding contribution to the development of theatrical art.
The most famous of them are “Feedback” (1977), “We, the Undersigned” (1978), “Bench” (1983). Gelman is a laureate of the USSR State Prize (1976) and the national theatre award “Golden Mask” (2019) for his outstanding contribution to the development of theatrical art.
ALEXANDER MARIN
Director
Director
Graduate of GITIS, student of Oleg Tabakov. Alexander Marin is one of those who stood at the origins of the creation of the legendary “Snuffbox” (Tabakerka), participating in performances not only as an actor, but also as an assistant to director Mr. Oleg Tabakov and as a director. Having played the main roles in the theater’s iconic performances “Overstocked Barrels” and “The Inspector General,” he became one of the most bright and prominent Moscow actors of the 90s.
Since 1992, he has been actively involved in directing, staging plays based on Dostoevsky (The Idiot, 1999), Hoffmann (The Sandman, 2000), Flaubert (Emma, 2014), and Shakespeare (The Tempest. Variations, 2015). Significant productions at the Tabakov Theater: “Sublimation of Love” (1997), “Provincial Anecdotes” (2002), “Sister Nadezhda” (2012), “Three Sisters” (2014), “Madonna with a Flower” (2015), “Nameless Star” "(2016).
Since 1992, he has been actively involved in directing, staging plays based on Dostoevsky (The Idiot, 1999), Hoffmann (The Sandman, 2000), Flaubert (Emma, 2014), and Shakespeare (The Tempest. Variations, 2015). Significant productions at the Tabakov Theater: “Sublimation of Love” (1997), “Provincial Anecdotes” (2002), “Sister Nadezhda” (2012), “Three Sisters” (2014), “Madonna with a Flower” (2015), “Nameless Star” "(2016).
- Svetlana Tegincostume design
- Vladislav Froloflightning design
- Alexey Serebryakovset design
- Mariia Serebryakovachoreography
- Anton Loshakproducer
- Elena Gerasevaproducer
- Kirill Zaiakinproducer
- Daniil Erokhinproducer
TOUR ARCHIVE:
2024:
February 2-7 - Israel
March 7-10 - Spain
March 12 - Dusseldorf, Germany
February 2-7 - Israel
March 7-10 - Spain
March 12 - Dusseldorf, Germany
2023:
March 27, 28, 29 - Tel Aviv, Israel
May 11, 12 - Dubai, UAE
June 1-5 - Turkiye
October 5 - Tashkent, Uzbekistan
October 23, 24 - Limassol, Cyprus
March 27, 28, 29 - Tel Aviv, Israel
May 11, 12 - Dubai, UAE
June 1-5 - Turkiye
October 5 - Tashkent, Uzbekistan
October 23, 24 - Limassol, Cyprus
2022-2023:
Russia: Moscow, St.Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Sochi, Krasnodar, Svetlogorsk, Vladimir, Almetyevsk
Russia: Moscow, St.Petersburg, Yekaterinburg, Sochi, Krasnodar, Svetlogorsk, Vladimir, Almetyevsk