Theatre

In order to construct dialogs, I used documentary sources: several students recorded "educational talks" on their phones. These recordings are hard to believe. Indeed, while many lines in the play were taken verbatim from the mouths of the real teachers, there were people both among actors and the audience that said that such things were not possible in modern Russia.

The actor that was supposed to play the role of the police officer refused to go on stage and had to be replaced.

Denisov Affair is a play based on the events of 2016–2017 when school students went to streets to protest against corruption in Russia. Following their political gesture, they were subjected to numerous humiliations: teachers insulted them in front of the class, and headmasters conducted a series of "educational talks" with them in presence of their parents. During these talks, headmasters threatened to expel them. In several cases, parents took the side of headmasters, fearing for the future that their children would face if they dropped out from school.

I tried to imagine a teachers' council, during which teachers would have to decide the future of such a student.

Directed by Olga Lysak
in Chelyabinsk State Academic Drama Theatre