The Union of Theater Workers of Russia received two chairmen at once: Mashkov and Gergiev

On Monday, a congress of the Union of Theater Workers of Russia was held at the Theater Center on Strastnoy. Extraordinary, the main task of which was to elect a new chairman. Contrary to expectations, it went so smoothly – as if it were written. There were no scandals that were predicted, but not without intrigue. It took three and a half hours to elect a new leader for the organization with a 147-year history. From the last congress – delegate and columnist for MK.

The congress begins without delay – exactly at noon with the national anthem. Chairman of the STD with 27 years of experience, Alexander Kalyagin, takes the floor and is greeted with applause.

“This extraordinary congress,” he begins, “will go down in history as fateful in its decisions.” I don’t know what to report for, because this is not a reporting and re-election congress. I’ll just say a few words from myself. Our congress is an extraordinary event: for the first time in the history of the Union it is extraordinary.

Kalyagin spoke for only three minutes, and in addition to universal words about the history of the Union, its useful activities for theater workers, he also heard something that, apparently, can be regarded as a statement: “Criticism has been voiced against the Union more than once. But I do not agree with the political assessment of his activities. The Union has never opposed the North Military District, has always supported and will support the line of the President of Russia.” And without a pause – about what the Union conveys to the next chairman in good condition and asks the new chairman and the new secretariat “not to break anything.”

It was no coincidence that politics and political assessments were discussed on the theater grounds—at the congress, representatives of the Presidential Administration sat in the front row. Kalyagin, as the current chairman, nominates the first candidate for his post – Lenkom actor Alexander Lazarev, who, by the way, studied with Kalyagin at the Moscow Art Theater School. Also nominated as chairman, as expected, was the director of the Vakhtangov Theater, Kirill Krok. The representative of the Primorsky Territory proposed Valery Gergiev, who for some reason left the hall 10 minutes earlier. Vladimir Mashkov was proposed by delegates from Kemerovo. Alexander Borisov was also nominated as a candidate from Yakutia.

And then something completely unexpected happened – like a snowfall, the above-mentioned persons began to recuse themselves. Lazarev was the first to take the stage.

– I have to refuse. The day before I received an offer to become the chief director, and I will not be able to combine the position with work at the STD either as chairman or in the secretariat.

The hall, which until that moment had resembled a calm sea, became seriously agitated and began asking from its seats: “Which theater?”

“I won’t say,” Lazarev retorted in a beautiful voice, “this will be announced one of these days.” Intrigue.

Kirill Krok also recused himself and asked to give his vote to Vladimir Mashkov. In addition, Krok said that Gergiev asked by phone to tell the respected meeting that, due to his inhumanly busy nature, he was not ready to be chairman, but was ready to work in the secretariat. Borisov, the candidate from Yakutia, also recused himself. Thus, the only candidate left on the list is Vladimir Mashkov. Vladimir Lvovich did not recuse himself.

During the break, the deputies wondered: was the whole mise-en-scène with self-recusations orchestrated or did the card fall that way? But they did not come to a consensus, exchanging meaningful glances. After the votes were counted, Kalyagin’s deputy Gennady Smirnov announced that Vladimir Mashkov had been elected as the new chairman of the STD – 176 votes for and 20 against. But since voting, according to the regulations, is secret, I was not able to find out who and, most importantly, why Vladimir Lvovich was not satisfied.

In his first speech as chairman of the STD, Mashkov addressed Kalyagin, recalling their shared filming in the film “I am Ivan, you are Abram,” which took place in Kyiv.

“I was young then, but I was surrounded by great actors. I remember how you were greeted and that you spoke about my creative approaches. And five years ago, when our heavenly teacher Oleg Tabakov passed away, I immediately came to you, and you supported me then, you and Galina Borisovna Volchek. Back then, back on Chistye Prudy, I wanted to create a theater district. So that there would be personalized shops of great artists and signs indicating how many steps are to the great theaters. God willing, we will still organize this space. This dream.

Judging by his speech, Vladimir Lvovich was well prepared. And he named the creation of various opportunities for young actors and their employment as a priority task.

— It is important that a young artist goes on stage as early as possible. We need to organize a labor exchange. In Sevastopol, for example, young artists are welcome.

Mashkov voiced several points of his preliminary program: support for those who dedicated their lives to the theater. We need to reboot some STD projects. Especially those that have lost the trust of the community and sponsors. This is primarily the “Golden Mask”. And finally, include new regions in the STD. Mashkov spoke passionately about theatrical professions associated with artists. I noted the festival of theater managers, which is held by the Vakhtangov Theater and Kirill Krok.

“Life doesn’t end with us.” Theater is the work of young people. I’m not talking about age, but about the young at heart.

To connect generations – and this is what the artist and director sees as his task as the chairman of the STD.

The congress elected a second chairman. It was Valery Gergiev.

Towards the end of the STD congress, which had been proceeding smoothly until now, the hall suddenly shook. The question arose about abolishing the position of first deputy chairman and replacing it with a co-chairman of the Union. What does this mean? The fact that now there will be two chairmen of the STD – one is responsible for drama, the second for musical theater.

“I would like to do everything possible to make everyone feel good,” Mashkov said in his final speech. And he proposed to approve Valery Gergiev as co-chairman of musical theater.

The hall was not unanimous on this issue, but the majority won.

This decision leaves a lot of questions, especially in light of Gergiev’s arrival at the Bolshoi Theater.