Bogomolov Comments on MHAT School-Studio Graduates' Letter

Director Konstantin Bogomolov called the discussions about «insiders» and «outsiders» in the theatrical environment naive and stupid. In a conversation with Izvestia, he commented on the letter that on January 26, a group of graduates from the Moscow Art Theatre (MAT) School-Studio, including Yulia Menshova and Mark Bogatyrev, sent to Russian Minister of Culture Olga Lyubimova. In it, they asked to cancel his appointment as acting rector, arguing that the position should be given to someone raised in the school«s traditions.

«I am generally not a fan of the epistolary genre. Collective letters, especially anonymous ones, complaints, retellings — this is not my way of existence. I am a man of action. <…> Discussions about »insiders« and »outsiders« seem naive to me, and sometimes just stupid,» Bogomolov stated.

He emphasized that the entire theatrical school grew out of the Stanislavsky system, and his teacher at GITIS, Andrei Goncharov, directly inherited the MAT traditions.

According to the director, such discussions turn the educational institution into «some kind of closed sect where »outsiders« supposedly cannot enter.» «This is absurd,» he added.

Bogomolov recalled that he worked for 10 years at the Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre, where his plays are still performed, and expressed confidence in strengthening cooperation between the theater and the School-Studio.

Problems in Actor Training

• An abundance of dubious courses created for profit.
• A decline in the quality of education at leading universities, including the level of speech, movement, command of language, and general humanities training.

He noted that modern students have poor knowledge of literature, art history, and the country«s history, do not sing, dance, or speak French. »We have become too kind and apologetic. We have become too engrossed in raising a plush generation that is not ready for struggle,« the director said.

Plans for the Development of the School-Studio

Bogomolov stated his intention to recruit an acting course and consider the possibility of creating an experimental directing workshop. Previously, this idea was supported by actress Sofya Ernst, who pointed out the absence of a directing faculty at the School-Studio. Bogomolov proposed graduating directors at least once every four years.

Commenting on combining the positions of director, artistic director of the Theatre on Malaya Bronnaya, and acting rector, he said: «I am used to working a lot, I have energy, and I am ready to spend it. In general, one must know how to spend oneself to the maximum, you know.»

The new head also plans to personally check the condition of all premises of the educational institution — from the walls to the classrooms. According to him, this principle was taught to him by the former rector of MAT Oleg Tabakov: at Malaya Bronnaya, Bogomolov makes such rounds weekly, believing that a leader must be responsible for everything.