On October 29, the Mali Academic Drama Theater - European Theater, operating in the Russian city of St. Petersburg, presented a show of the same name at the Azerbaijan Academic Theater, based on Anton Pavlovich Chekhov's play "The Seagull", as part of the Baku International Arts Festival (BIAF-2026). Azerbaijan's First Vice President Mehriban Aliyeva, her daughter Leila Aliyeva and Elena Aliyeva watched the performance. "The Seagull", directed by Lev Dodin, winner of prestigious Russian theater awards, including the Golden Mask, is considered one of the most famous examples of a classical play.
The production and designer of the play is Alexander Borovsky. People's Artist of Russia Sergey Kuryshev, Honored Artists Elizaveta Boyarskaya, Igor Chernivych and others appeared in the stage work. It should be noted that the Baku International Arts Festival, which will last until November 8, is being held for the second time. The BIAF-2026 program, organized with the support of the Haider Aliyev Foundation and the Ministry of Culture, includes more than 20 events, including concerts, ballet and theater performances, film screenings, meetings with artists and master classes. Artists and creative groups from Azerbaijan, Great Britain, Israel, Canada, Russia, USA, France and other countries take part in the festival.