About the Play

Five Evenings is a moving melodrama that weaves together the stories of two generations, exploring love, loss, and resilience in the face of unimaginable hardships. Set against the backdrop of post-Stalin, post-war Soviet Union, the play follows Ilyin and Tamara, two former lovers separated by 17 years of war and the GULAG. Reuniting at last, they must grapple with the inescapable passage of time, the deep scars left by human suffering, and the possibility of rebuilding what was once lost. Parallel to their journey is the story of young Slava and Katya, whose youthful hopes and dreams mirror those of the older generation, albeit in a new and turbulent era of the 1960s.

Premiering in 1959 at the Leningrad State Academic Bolshoi Drama Theater, Five Evenings has become a cornerstone of Russian theater. Volodin’s ability to capture the nuances of human emotion, while subtly embedding the weight of history, makes this play a timeless classic. Without overt depictions of the brutality of war or the ferocity of a totalitarian regime, the story resonates through its characters’ feelings, dreams, and quiet resilience.

This production, for a contemporary audience, aims to bring Volodin’s rich narrative and emotional depth to life, connecting the battles and hopes of the past with present-day trials and tribulations.