On November 30, the premiere of the performance «Christmas at Signore Cupello’s House» premiered, based on the play by Italian playwright Eduardo De Filippo. This is a collaborative production by director Vladimir Loginov and the acting program’s graduating class from the Boris Shchukin Theatre Institute, under the guidance of Valentina Petrovna Nikolaenko.
Students from the 4th Year of the Sound Art and Sound Design major at the HSE Art and Design School contributed to creating the soundscape for the Institute’s educational theater production.
For almost two months, students Darya Falko, Ekaterina Zamyatina, Alyona Zhuravleva, and Ilya Maevsky worked on the sound design for the production. Their tasks included: • composing and recording original music; • sourcing and processing sound effects; • arranging; • developing the play’s sound score.
The Coordinator of the Sound Music Program at the HSE Art and Design School, Pyotr Skovorodnikov, noted: «The partnership between the HSE Art and Design School and the B. V. Shchukin Theater Institute offers students a unique opportunity to apply sound art skills in a real theatrical process—from developing the sound score to integrating sound into stage action.»
Practice Curator Evgeny Skukovskiy notes the high intensity of the work: «Rehearsals and run-throughs are happening right now—the students are in constant motion. They are managing, mixing, and perfecting tracks for the production in real-time, developing entirely new concepts. This is an incredible hands-on experience working with the director and performers to create a performance.»
Following the premiere, Evgeny Skukovsky conducted a short interview with the creative team of the performance. His interviewees were director-teacher Vladimir Logvinov and acting coach Evgenia Ivashova. Both are actors at the Vakhtangov Theatre, teach at the institute, and have collaborated on numerous productions.
Yevgeny Skukovsky: — For you, it was an experiment: students from your alma mater, whom you knew well, were integrated into a play being rehearsed by graduating students, alongside students from another university whom you met for the first time. It seemed to me that their participation in the play’s development felt quite natural. But perhaps this experience was strange or uncomfortable for you as a director?
Vladimir Logvinov: — I experienced neither strangeness nor discomfort. Quite the opposite! When you appeared, I thought: if fate itself is sending me something, why not take advantage of the gift? Yes, there were technical hurdles—some things weren’t as fast as in a professional theater. But that’s not what matters! What matters is that your students themselves wanted something, proposed things, created things, tried things, and made mistakes. Your students possess all the necessary skills, and they are also eager to understand, grasp concepts, and propose new ideas—that is wonderful!
Evgeny Skukovsky: — So, the engagement was complete? Vladimir Logvinov: — Yes! Complete. Absolute. Evgeniya Ivashova: — The most important thing is bringing together people who share an interest in creating things together. They encourage one another, guide each other, discover things—and that is priceless. All creativity rests on this. Such collaborations or meetings always lead to something good!
Evgeny Skukovsky: - What can you say about the results of your work with the university students? Vladimir Logvinov: - It’s too early to break it down: the performance has many components… but regarding your students—we are not simply satisfied; we are pleased and grateful! The performance will live on and develop; as they say, there is no limit to perfection…
Evgeny Skukovsky: - Shall we continue? Vladimir Logvinov: - With pleasure! Evgeniya Ivashova: - As long as there’s a reason! Evgeny Skukovsky: - Then let’s invent one. Vladimir and Evgeniya: - Let’s do it!
