People’s Artist Sergei Karpov became the artistic director of the Voronezh Chamber Theater

Ministry of Culture of the Voronezh Region reported, that 68-year-old People’s Artist of Russia and head of the local art institute Sergei Karpov has been appointed the new artistic director of the Chamber Theater. The position of artistic director has been vacant since the end of November, when was fired its founder is Mikhail Bychkov.

“Today we introduced the theater staff to their new leader, who actually needs no introduction. Sergey Karpov is a People’s Artist of the Russian Federation with extensive management experience. We have no doubt that the theater was entrusted to a professional with the right attitude in life,” said Minister of Culture Maria Mazur.

Sergei Karpov himself told “Kommersant-Chernozemye”that his main task as artistic director will be to preserve the troupe and the theater beloved by the townspeople.

Sergey Karpov has been working in the cultural sector for 47 years. Since 1976 he has been an actor at the Voronezh Academic Drama Theater named after Alexei Koltsov. In 2004, Mr. Karpov was awarded the highest honorary title “People’s Artist of the Russian Federation.” In 2005 and 2010, he was elected as a deputy of the Voronezh City Duma, and now heads the Voronezh Public Chamber.

The authorities of the Voronezh region explained the dismissal of Mr. Bychkov due to his attitude to a special military operation. The ministry claimed that he “actually spoke out against the policy of the Russian Federation.” Due to the dismissal of the artistic director, collaborate with the Chamber Theater refused three leading actresses: Natalia Shevchenko, Tatyana Babenkova and Yana Kuzina.

Sergey Tolmachev, Voronezh