Vladikavkaz, the capital of the Republic of North Ossetia-Alania, has been dramatically transformed into a sprawling stage with the opening of the second “Vakhtangov. Way Home” All-Russian Theatre Festival. Established and organized by Moscow`s renowned Vakhtangov Theatre, this annual event is quickly becoming a highlight, bringing a unique theatrical pulse to the city that residents eagerly anticipate.
From Sunday evening, streets and squares across Vladikavkaz—including Freedom Square, Mira Avenue, Kosta Khetagurov Park, and the historic house of Evgeny Vakhtangov himself—became venues for a diverse array of performances. The initial wave saw street theaters capturing the city`s attention, a phenomenon relatively new to Vladikavkaz before the festival`s debut last year, which featured impressive giant puppets resembling literary greats like Gogol, Pushkin, and Dostoevsky.
This year`s opening spectacle included a parade themed around physical culture. Participants, largely drawn from local sports sections and dance schools, emphasized the theatrical aspects of movement rather than mere athletic prowess. Guiding this imaginative procession was the aptly named “Ministry of Cardboard,” a creative entity responsible for crafting the wonderfully whimsical, clearly non-functional sports equipment used in the parade.
The audience wasn`t just passive observers; they were invited to participate in the “first Altero-Olympic sports games,” devised by the Ministry of Cardboard, offering everyone a chance to set their own, perhaps slightly unconventional, personal records.
The next day, a significant crowd gathered around a small pond in Khetagurov Park for a performance with the intriguing title “Drown Everything!”. This premiere by Moscow`s “Trickster” theatre, drawing inspiration from the works of Johann Wolfgang Goethe and Alexander Pushkin, indeed involved an act of symbolic “drowning.” The sheer number of people crammed around the pond suggested this aquatic spectacle was a major draw.
Despite the playful nature of some opening events, the “Vakhtangov. Way Home” festival has a serious mission. The Moscow organizers are committed to presenting high-quality theatrical art across various genres—drama, puppet theatre, and musical performances—while also focusing on education and contributing to the social development of the region. An expert council selected seven productions from theaters across five Russian regions, including Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kazan, Ryazan, Elista, and Ulan-Ude, to form the festival`s program. Notably, ticket prices are kept deliberately affordable, mirroring those of local theaters, sidestepping any hint of metropolitan exclusivity.
The core program commenced with the Masterkaya Petra Fomenko theatre presenting “A Completely Incredible Event,” based on Gogol`s “The Marriage.” Yevgeny Kamenkovich, the theatre`s artistic director, arrived early in Vladikavkaz and fittingly made his first visit to Evgeny Vakhtangov`s ancestral home. This two-story mansion has rightfully become a significant cultural landmark and now serves as a key festival venue.
Adding to the festival`s infrastructure, a new venue has been incorporated this year: the local branch of the Mariinsky Theatre. The educational program also promises depth, exploring topics such as the relationship between Vakhtangov and Vsevolod Meyerhold, studying Vakhtangov`s own production of “The Dybbuk,” examining the structure of theatrical training from school to studio to professional theatre, and even discussing modern theatre blogging.
Kirill Krok, the Director of the Vakhtangov Theatre, expressed clear ambitions for the event. “We hope the festival becomes annual,” he stated, “We want to do everything possible to help the republic and Evgeny Vakhtangov`s hometown each year, affirming that Vladikavkaz is the cultural capital of the North Caucasus.”
And finally, a curious detail: the Vakhtangov company seems to have a peculiar affinity for the number 13. Evgeny Vakhtangov was born on February 13th, he opened his studio (which later became the theatre) on November 13th, and in keeping with this pattern, the “Vakhtangov. Way Home” festival is set to conclude on July 13th with a grand concert on Freedom Square. A touch of theatrical superstition, perhaps, or simply a lucky number?
Whatever the reason, for the next week, this vibrant southern city will be fully immersed in a rich and diverse program of theatrical events.
