The premiere is scheduled for February 8, 2003

In the play, written by French dramatist Eric-Emmanuel Schmitt, theatre and life are inextricably intertwined as two poles of the whole.

But, above all, this play is about the Theatre – about intrigues between actors, about stupid playwright and greedy manager, about happiness and curse of the acting and, of course, about love. Vasily Lanovoy plays the part of a great actor of the 19thcentury Frederick Lemaitre. He gave his life to the theatre, sacrificing personal happiness. The idol of the public, he dies abandoned and indigent. The theatre had long ago replaced everything else in his life.

“Leave the stage to us, for we leave our lives to you’ – says Frederick Lemaitre at the close.