A meeting was held today at the Russian House in New Delhi between prominent Russian theatre professionals and Indian students, marking the beginning of an exceptional international collaboration. Sergey Cherkassky, a celebrated theatre director and head of the acting workshop at the Russian State Institute of Performing Arts, alongside Natalia Shurganova, an esteemed teacher from the GITIS Institute of Theater Arts, are set to work with Indian students over the next month and a half in a joint effort to explore and celebrate the art of performance.

Arriving at the invitation of India’s National School of Drama and supported by the Rossotrudnichestvo representative office in India, the Russian directors will mentor and collaborate closely with students on two major productions. These graduation performances, scheduled for November and December, will be staged at New Delhi’s primary theatre venue, offering audiences a unique fusion of Russian and Indian theatre traditions.
The joint project reflects a significant cultural exchange, providing Indian theatre students with invaluable guidance from Russia’s most respected institutions. Sergey Cherkassky brings years of experience in theatre direction and pedagogy, known for his deep, actor-focused approach, while Natalia Shurganova offers expertise from GITIS, Russia’s leading theatre arts institute, renowned for shaping generations of talented performers.

The partnership is not only a learning opportunity but also a celebration of Indo-Russian friendship and shared passion for the performing arts. The graduation performances promise to showcase a blend of artistic perspectives, delivering engaging and culturally rich narratives that reflect the students’ development under Cherkassky and Shurganova’s guidance.