The world premiere of the theatrical project “INOSTRANKA” will take place in Germany — a contemporary stage interpretation of Sergei Dovlatov’s novella “The Foreigner”. The leading role is performed by actress Masha Mashkova. The production is directed by Maxim Didenko, one of the most prominent figures in contemporary theatre.
“INOSTRANKA” is contemporary theatre about a person at a turning point. About choice, loss, hope, and the ability to maintain irony even when the familiar world collapses. The production addresses audiences from different countries and cultures, turning a personal story into a universal one.
What makes a person leave their home: politics, circumstances, an inner crisis, or a sudden feeling of alienation within their own life? The play “INOSTRANKA” searches for answers to these questions by combining the literary source with the personal story of the actress.
This is not only a stage adaptation of Dovlatov’s novella, but also an open conversation between Masha Mashkova and the audience — about life in emigration, attempts to build a career in Hollywood, Los Angeles, memory, family, and growing up. The production exists as a live dialogue without a fourth wall — ironic, honest, emotional, and therapeutic.
The project addresses emigration as a universal human experience. While in the 1980s emigration was perceived mainly as an everyday drama, today it is an existential choice and a leap into the unknown. Yet the essence remains unchanged: every person becomes a “foreigner” at least once in life — in a new country, a new profession, or even within their own destiny.
Maxim Didenko’s authorial method combines theatre, cinema, and multimedia, forming a contemporary stage language. Two parallel processes unfold within the production — theatrical and cinematic. Video is not an illustration but a full participant in the action, creating a multilayered artistic space.
The cinematic part of the project features:
Maxim Sukhanov, Varya Shmykova, Nikita Kukushkin, Nikola Ashurkov.
Playwright — Mikhail Durnenkov
Director — Maxim Didenko
Composer — Anna Drubich
Costume Designer — Tatiana Dolmatovskaya
Set Designer — Ksenia Peretrukhina
Lighting and Sound Design — Yuri Galkin
Multimedia — Oleg Mikhailov
Producers — Aleksandrina Markvo, Katerina Kashintseva, Masha Mashkova
Stage Manager — Ilya Kuznetsov
| Date: | 22.05.2026 |
| Time: | 19:30 |
| Venue: | Kurtheater |
| Address: | Louisenstraße 58, 61348 Bad Homburg v. d. Höhe |
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Stadthalle Mülheim an der Ruhr
Theodor-Heuss-Platz 1, 45479 Mülheim an der Ruhr
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Teatro Colorato
Františkánske námestie 2, 811 01 Bratislava (Slovakia)
Tempodrom
Möckernstraße 10, 10963 Berlin
Meistersingerhalle Großer Saal
Münchener Straße 21, 90478 Nürnberg
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Simplonstraße 23, 10245 Berlin
Congress Centrum
Am Waisenhausplatz 1 - 3, 75172 Pforzheim
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Irk St, M4 4JT Manchester (United Kingdom)
Konzerthaus Karlsruhe
Festplatz 9, 76137 Karlsruhe
NarrenCastl
Rudolf-Biebl-Straße 22, 5020 Salzburg (Österreich)
Craic Den Comedy Club
10 Wellington Quay, Temple Bar, D02 VX36 Dublin (Irland)
Die Glocke
Domsheide 4 - 5, 28195 Bremen
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Stadthalle am Schloss
Schlossplatz 1, 63739 Aschaffenburg
Crazy Nate's West Coast Mexican
u. Zwingerstraße 9, 90489 Nürnberg
Halle 424
Stockmeyerstraße 43, 20457 Hamburg
ART-CAFÉ AVIATOR
Lindower Str. 18, 13347 Berlin
Secret Comedy Club
Carrer de la Junta de Comerç, 28, Ciutat Vella, 08001 Barcelona (Espanya)
The Iscte - Main Auditorium, University
Av. das Forças Armadas, 1649-026 Lisbon (Portugal)
Lozionica
Ulica Ideja 2, 11000 Beograd (Serbia)
ART-CAFÉ AVIATOR
Lindower Str. 18, 13347 Berlin
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Mußstr. 1, 96047 Bamberg
Cave 54
Krämergasse 2, 69117 Heidelberg
Rhein Sieg Halle
Bachstrasse 1, 53721 Siegburg
Uber Eats Music Hall
Uber Platz 2, 10243 Berlin
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ART-CAFÉ AVIATOR
Lindower Str. 18, 13347 Berlin
Maison Paroissiale Saint François-Xavier
7 Pl. du Président Mithouard, 75007 Paris (France)
Casino Estoril
Av. Dr. Stanley Ho, 2765-190 Estoril (Lisbon)
Karakas Bar
Kurfürstenstraße 9, 10785 Berlin
Karakas Bar
Kurfürstenstraße 9, 10785 Berlin
The Tabernacle
34-35 Powis Sq, W11 2AY London (England)