People’s Artist of Russia Liya Akhedzhakova has resigned from the Sovremennik Theater. On this subject informed RIA Novosti in reference to the press service of the theater.
They explained that Akhedzhakova resigned from the theater of her own free will, so “working relations with her cannot be continued.”
As Akhedzhakova herself said, she wrote a letter of resignation from Sovremennik on March 10. According to Novaya Gazeta, the actress now plans to go on tour, but will not leave Russia. At the same time, on April 3, Sovremennik claimed that the personnel department had not received a statement about the dismissal of Akhedzhakova.
Akhedzhakova’s departure from Sovremennik came after the theater canceled its last performance, The Gin Game, in early February. As the actress said, theater director Yuri Kravets explained this decision with letters from disgruntled viewers, as well as a recommendation from the Moscow Department of Culture. The secretary of the theater director, in conversation with Novaya Gazeta, in turn claimed that the performance was canceled due to Akhedzhakova’s poor health.
In the fall of 2022, another performance with the participation of the actress, The First Bread, was finally removed from the Sovremennik repertoire. In July 2021, the production was criticized by the organization “Officers of Russia”, which filed complaints about the portrayal with the Moscow City Hall and the Prosecutor General’s Office. The SERB movement also issued criticisms and threats. According to Akhedzhakova, during a conversation with the investigator, she was accused of “swearing” on stage.
Akhedzhakova has also repeatedly spoken out against the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Liya Akhedzhakova is a Russian people’s artist. She was accepted into the Sovremennik troupe in 1977. In addition to acting in the theater, Akhedzhakova acted in films: in particular, she played roles in such films as “Moscow Does Not Believe in Tears”, “The Irony of destiny or enjoy your bath”, “Office Romance”, “Holidays in Moscow” and “Old scoundrels”.
