The Master and Margarita in Almaty

«The Master and Margarita» is a unique production that has been running to full houses for more than twenty-five years. This production has become the most played stage reading of the great novel. Mikhail Bulgakov's artistic style and the Theatre's aesthetics have turned out to be remarkably consonant. The complex structure of the novel is fully preserved on stage and supplemented. The play asserts: creative thought is immortal, «manuscripts do not burn»!

But still, the play «The Master and Margarita» directed by Valery Belyakovitch should not be taken as a literal retelling of the plot. It is a theatrical composition based on the novel and incorporating all three layers laid down by Bulgakov - domestic, fantastic and biblical.

Shrouded in mysticism and scandal, the performance has long since broken all records for box office receipts and audience interest. It has been applauded by audiences in more than 40 countries from five continents. The play, which gave rise to a lot of rumours, gossip and charmed more than a million spectators.

In general, «The Master and Margarita» does not lend itself particularly readily to staging. It is not easy to bring a rather large work into the framework of a play. The task is complicated by the tight and subtle interweaving of plot lines, and in general the novel itself is shrouded in a mystical halo. Director Valery Belyakovich is not afraid to stage a production (not a good novel) by Mikhail Bulgakov. Successfully thought out by the director mise-en-scene, a lot of dances, luxurious costumes, laser show, skill of the light artist and brilliant performance of the actors will help to realise the impossible: Bulgakov's most famous novel will come to life on the stage. And the theatre version, believe me, is no less impressive than the original.