The Golden Mask

Russia`s National Theatre Award "The Golden Mask" was established in 1993 by the Theatre Union of the Russian Federation and is given to the performances of all genres of theatre art: drama, opera, ballet, modern dance, operetta and musical, puppet theatre. "The Golden Mask" is a Russian theatre festival held each spring in Moscow that presents the most significant performances of Russian cities.

The organizers of the Russia`s National Theatre Award and "The Golden Mask" festival are: the Theatre Union of the Russian Federation, the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation, Moscow Government, the Management of "The Golden Mask" festival. The selection of the performances-participants of the festival and the applicants for “The Golden Mask" award is carried out by the expert boards including theatre critics. The jury of "The Golden Mask" involves actors, directors, conductors, choreographers, theatre artists.

"The Golden Mask" is not only an authoritative and prestigious award in the field of theatre arts, but also a real cultural institution that performs a variety of important objectives that are strategic for the theatre. The history of "The Golden Mask" is a chronicle of the contemporary Russian theatre reflecting all main directions of its development.

"The Golden Mask" was the initiator of a number of major theatrical events, including the international program “Russian Case” addressed to the foreign guests of "The Golden Mask", publishing projects, tours of the Bolshoi, Mariinsky, Alexandrinsky, Maly Drama, Mikhailovsky theatre, etc. "The Golden Mask" pays special attention to touring activities, organizing the joint program with the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation "Best performances in the Russian cities and in the Baltic States" since 2000.

In 2013 "The Golden Mask" festival is held for the 19th time. The awarding ceremony of "The Golden Mask" will take place on April 16 on the stage of the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Musical Theatre. 56 performances of 46 theatres in Russia were selected to participate in this contest. These works will be seen not only by the audience, but by the two professional members of the jury as usual. In the drama theatre division the jury will be headed by the artistic director of the St. Petersburg Alexandrinsky Theatre, the famous film director, the People’s Artist of Russia Valery Fokin. The chairman of the jury for the musical theatre this time will be the artistic director of the Tallinn Philharmonic Hall, the prominent Estonian conductor, the People's Artist of the USSR Eri Klas.

The competition of the performances will continue until April 15. On 16 April "The Golden Mask" will name the winners. The solemn ceremony will take place at the Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Moscow Academic Musical Theatre.