Normal practice: there was a mass dismissal of artists in the Theater of the Russian Army

There was an unexpected and massive dismissal at the Moscow Theater of the Russian Army, and 15 actors of the troupe were unemployed at the same time. This is reported by the telegram channel Shot.

According to one of the dismissed actresses, Ksenia Taran, who has worked in the theater for 21 years, she has already been in new productions for the next season.

"But right before the vacation, she and 14 other actors were announced that their fixed-term employment contract would not be extended. And this means that they no longer work in the theater," the publication says.

After unsuccessful appeals to the trade union and the Ministry of Culture, the artists decided to go to court with a demand to reinstate them at work.

Milena Avinskaya, the director of the theater, explained the situation by "updating the troupe" against the background of the appointment of a new chief director, who previously became the People's Artist of Russia Alexander Lazarev.

"They just didn't extend their fixed—term employment contract," Avinskaya said.

According to her, in the theatrical world, every artistic director or chief director, upon arrival at a new theater, always renews the creative team.

"In this case, Alexander Alexandrovich Lazarev hired 10 new artists from different institutes and found it necessary to part with some artists," the director said.

"This is a normal practice for any theater," Avinskaya summed up.

As reported by EADaily, Lazarev was appointed chief director of the Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army (TSATRA) in early December last year.

In June 2020, Boris Morozov resigned as chief director after 25 years of work. From that moment on, the position remained vacant.

In March 2024, Milena Aviemskaya, the first female director in history, was appointed director of the Army Theater.

The 95th anniversary theatrical season will open with the premiere of the musical "The Flying Ship" on September 1. On the same day, the opening of the exhibition dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the Army Theater on Strastnoy Boulevard.