The Academic “Maly” Drama Theater – Europe Theater, operating in St. Petersburg, Russia, presented its play “The Seagull,” based on Anton Pavlovich Chekhov’s drama of the same name, at the Azerbaijan State Academic Musical Theater on October 29 as part of the Baku International Arts Festival (BIAF-2026).
“Elchi” reports that the First Vice-President of Azerbaijan, Mehriban Aliyeva, along with her daughters Leyla Aliyeva and Alyona Aliyeva, watched the performance.
“The Seagull,” staged by Lev Dodin, a laureate of prestigious Russian theater awards including the “Golden Mask,” is considered one of the most famous examples of the classic play.
The set and costume designer for the play is Alexander Borovsky.
People’s Artist of Russia Sergey Kuryshev, Honored Artists Elizaveta Boyarskaya, Igor Chernevich, and others performed in the stage production.
It should be noted that the Baku International Arts Festival, which will continue until November 8, is being held for the second time. The BIAF-2026 program, organized with the support of the Heydar Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture, includes more than 20 events, such as concerts, ballet and theater performances, film screenings, meetings with cultural figures, and master classes.
Artists and creative groups from Azerbaijan, Great Britain, Israel, Canada, Russia, the USA, France, and other countries are participating in the festival.