(Source: http://ria.ru/culture/20140506/1006700446.html)

The Maly Drama Theatre – The Theatre of Europe under the guidance of the great director Lev Dodin starts a big tour in Paris, RIA Novosti reported to the press service of the theatre.

From 10 to 26 May the St. Petersburg troop will present two of its performances to the French audience – “Intrigue and Love” by Schiller and ”Three Sisters” by Chekhov. “We begin our performances on a familiar ground of the cultural centre MS93 Bobigny – the press officer of the theatre said. “The centre is managed by Patrick Saumier, which is connected with Lev Dodin and the Maly Drama by a long-standing creative friendship. Our theatre has been touring Paris at this stage since 1992, where all of its premieres have been shown”.

 In the absence of permanent theatre troops in France (except the only repertoire theatre “Comedie Francaise”) the administration of Bobigny and Paris spectators, according to the press officer, treat the actors and the artistic director of the MDT, as “their own” troop. This time the Russian theatre introduces Parisians to their latest works. These are “Three Sisters” and “Intrigue and Love” directed by Dodin which have recently had a huge success in Moscow; moreover “Intrigue and Love” won the highest national award “Golden Mask” for “Best Dramatic Performance”.

Lev Dodin will celebrate his 70th birthday on May 14 in Paris, on the tour, which is an integral part of the creative life of the Maly Drama Theatre. No special anniversary celebrations are planned in St. Petersburg.

The Maly Drama Theatre was established in 1944. Lev Dodin was its chief director in 1983, and since 2002 he has became an artistic director of the MDT. Now the Maly Drama Theatre is one of the recognized leaders of the world theatrical process. The performances of the MDT have been shown in almost every part of the world - in more than 60 cities of Europe, Australia, North and South America, Southeast Asia.

The judgment on the level of the Russian theatrical culture today is largely based on the works of this theatre. The repertoire includes such performances  as Chekhov’s “Three Sisters”, “The Seagull”, “Uncle Vanya”, “Untitled Piece”, "”The Cherry Orchard”, " Schiller’s “Intrigue and Love”, “Life and Fate” by Grossman, “The Possessed”  by Dostoevsky, “The Enemy of the People” by Ibsen.

There are performances with a special destiny – the long-living “House” and “Brothers and Sisters” created by Dodin based on the prose of Abramov. They have lived for 20 years on this stage and earned the recognition of spectators in many countries. In 1998 the MDT has been awarded the status of European Theatre.