Theatre On Screen: Yury Butusov’s “R” in HD in Cleveland

“R” (Government Inspector)

Directed by Yury Butusov
Satirikon Theatre
Distributed by Stage Russia HD and Art Seen Films"
Presented in Russian with English subtitles

​​Yury Butusov’s final Moscow production is this multi-award-winning work based on Nikolai Gogol’s “Government Inspector”. The play deftly delves into the dual impossibilities of both accepting reality and escaping from it. As with many of Butusov’s stagings, chaos and pathos are seamlessly interwoven, with art presented as both freeing and healing. Featuring Konstantin Raikin, Timofey Tribuntsev and Maryana Spivak.

​Presented in Russian with English subtitles

Running time: 2hr 58m (including a 10 min intermission)

​About the Director: Yuri Butusov (1961–2025) was one of the most influential and innovative theatre directors of his generation. He first gained widespread recognition with his acclaimed production of Waiting for Godot, which established his distinctive theatrical voice. Over the following three decades, he directed landmark productions at leading Russian theatres, including the Lensovet Theatre, the Satirikon Theatre, and the Vakhtangov Theatre, earning numerous Golden Mask Awards for productions such as The Seagull, Macbeth.Kino, The Good Person of Szechwan and this production "R". Renowned for his emotionally charged visual language, bold reinterpretations of classical texts, and fearless experimentation, Butusov profoundly influenced contemporary European theatre. After leaving Russia in 2022, he continued to create productions across Europe until his death in 2025.