Exiled Russian theatre director Dmitry Krymov to premiere Dickens adaptation in London

Dmitry Krymov, an acclaimed Russian theatre director facing persecution in his home country, is set to stage a production in London inspired by two Charles Dickens novels, “Great Expectations” and “Hard Times,” as well as launching his own creative studio, Krymov Lab.

The director aims to foster connections between British and Russian artists and audiences, preserving cultural dialogue that has been severely disrupted in recent times, according to The Guardian.

“Through my work, I want to demonstrate that even now, as we find ourselves standing on this unexpected fracture in the earth’s crust, not everything is subject to the laws of physics. In other words, I strive not to fall into the abyss but rather to stage performances at its very edge,” Krymov stated.

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In Russia, Krymov has been repeatedly honoured with the prestigious Golden Mask theatre award. However, following his public opposition to the war in 2022, his productions were banned, and his name removed from theatre programmes. The director currently resides in New York, where he founded Krymov Lab.

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Yet Krymov continues to maintain strong ties with the British capital. On 31 March, his production “Everyone Is Here” was screened alongside a director’s talk. In January, London audiences had the opportunity to view his production “Boris” on screen. Previously, in 2014, Krymov presented “Opus No 7” at London’s Barbican, a production addressing the plight of Soviet Jews and the persecution of composer Shostakovich.

Cover photo: @krymovlabnyc

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