A Journey to the Old Russia and Back. Bogatyry by Demian Bedny

Abstract

The article examines the history of writing and staging of Demyan Bedny’s play Bogatyry (Epic Heroes) at Kamerny theater. The play is based on the legend about the Baptism of the Rus.’ Bedny represents the images of epic heroes and the legendary prince Vladimir in satirical, even grotesque light. Such understanding of ancient Russian history was congenial with the ideas of the Soviet historians of the 1920s. In the changed climate of the second half of the 1930s (defeat of the historical school of M.N. Pokrovsky), such attitude became perceived as deeply wrong. The performance was closed while the director A.Y. Tairov and Demyan Bedny were subjected to disgrace.

Keywords

• Kamerny theater
• Tairov
• Demyan Bedny
• history