DIARY OF MADMEN
Premiered in Riga in 2024, Diary of Madmen is an independent production by visionary director Dmitry Krymov — an ode to theater as both escape and salvation from a collapsing world. In this deeply personal work, two acclaimed actors, Chulpan Khamatova and Maksim Sukhanov, portray artists confronting the loss of their familiar lives and the meaning of their craft. Even as madness and despair close in, Krymov insists on the power of resistance, of laughter and love, and of art as the last refuge of inner freedom.
Presented in Russian w/ English subtitles
Running time: 1 hour 49 minutes
CREATIVE TEAM
Directed by Dmitry Krymov
Set Design by Dmitry Krymov, Petr Voznesenskiy
Video artist: Petr Voznesenskiy
Choreographed by Anna Abalikhina
Costume Design by Tatiana Dolmatovskaya
Lighting Design by Ivars Vacers, Oskars Paulins
Director’s producer: Inna Krymova
CAST
Chulpan Khamatova
Maksim Sukhanov
DMITRY KRYMOV
Known for his innovative, design-centric style, Dmitry Krymov is one of the most original directorial voices of his generation. He is internationally beloved for his visually stunning, richly layered reinventions of classics, where he and his company combine fine art, prose, poetry, music, and popular culture in a mercurial tapestry of original, inventive, and surprising moments. In his productions, the design goes on a journey alongside the characters; often, the actors transform their environment, using props and scenery to construct new worlds right before the audience's eyes. He has been hailed as “one of the world’s finest theatermakers” (New York Times), and has won many awards for his work, both in Russia and internationally. In early 2022, Krymov was in Philadelphia, preparing his production of The Cherry Orchard, which was scheduled to premiere at the Wilma Theatre in February. After Russia invaded Ukraine, he condemned the invasion and refused to return to his homeland. In October 2022, Krymov announced the opening of his new studio in New York City – Krymov Lab NYC.
