KING LEAR
Written by William Shakespeare
Satirikon Arkady Raikin Russian State Theatre
Filmed live at the Satirikon Theatre, Yury Butusov's award-winning avant-garde masterpiece features a grueling, legendary performance by Konstantin Raikin that completely abandons conventional period grandeur. Butusov relies on a fiercely modern, grotesque theatrical language to explore the breakdown of family and society, driving the production forward with erratic circus marches, white-faced clown motifs, and a total disruption of the classic fourth wall. Instead of a traditional historic tragedy, the stage becomes a dark, surrealist playground where high-energy physical choreography replaces heavy dialogue. By stripping away royal pretension in favor of vulnerable, chaotic absurdity, the show ultimately culminates not with a grand state funeral, but in a hauntingly quiet, post-apocalyptic graveyard of props.
Photos: Roman Fedotov
Language: Russian
Translation: English subtitles
Running time: 2 hours 32 minutes
Yuri Butusov (1961–2025) was one of the most influential and innovative theatre directors of his generation. A graduate of the Saint Petersburg State Academy of Theatre Arts, he first gained widespread recognition with his acclaimed production of Waiting for Godot, which established his distinctive theatrical voice. Over the following three decades, he directed landmark productions at leading Russian theatres, including the Lensovet Theatre, the Satirikon Theatre, and the Vakhtangov Theatre, earning numerous Golden Mask Awards for productions such as The Seagull, Macbeth. Cinema, and The Good Person of Szechwan. Renowned for his emotionally charged visual language, bold reinterpretations of classical texts, and fearless experimentation, Butusov profoundly influenced contemporary European theatre. After leaving Russia in 2022, he continued to create productions across Europe until his death in 2025. (vakhtangov.ru)
Creative Team
Director – Yury Butusov
Set Design – Alexander Shishkin
Сhoreographer – Nikolay Reutov
Lighting Design – Anatoly Kuznecov
Sound – Sergey Lebedev
Assistant Director – Elvira Kekeyeva
Cast
King Lear – Konstantin Raikin
Earl of Gloucester – Denis Sukhanov
Edgar – Daniil Pugayev
Edmund – Anton Kuznecov
Earl of Kent – Timofey Tribuntcev
Goneril – Marina Drovosekova
Regan – Agrippina Steklova
Cordelia – Maryana Spivak
Duke of Burgundy – Yakov Lomkin
Duke of Cornwall – Konstantin Tretyakov
Duke of Albany – Vladimir Bolshov
King of France – Daniil Pugayev
Oswald – Yakov Lomkin
Fool – Elena Bereznova
Upcoming Screenings
There are currently no scheduled screenings for "King Lear"