History
In 1989 Andrey Moguchy founded the Formalny theatre and it’s performances at once made a lot of discussions as among critics, so among the audience: radical interpretations, brave and always unexpected plays with scene space caused admiration and astonishment. The material for performances always was also unexpected, for example: “La Cantatrice Chauve” by Eugène Ionesco or “Peterburg” by Andrey Bely. From the very beginning Andrey Moguchy attracted to his performances absolutely different people: actors, artists, musicians - acknowledged ones and quite unknown.
In 90’s it was a hard time for all Russia, but Formalny Theatre survived by going on tour in Germany, Great Britain, Poland, Finland, Denmark, Netherlands, Romania and France. During this time Moguchy was producing a lot: “Two Sisters”, “Orlando Furioso” , “Long-awaited Christmas dinner” , “Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead”, “A Natural Household in Shambala” and, finally, “School for fools” based on the novel by Sasha Sokolov which was awarded to the Fringe First and Grand Prix of BITEF (Belgrade International Theatre Festival).
Formalny theatre took part in a lot of international festivals, such as Mask (Hungary), ArtGende (Denmark), UNIDRAM (Germany), "Divadelna Nitra” (Nitra, Slovakia), "Wannsee Forum" (Germany), «Krakow theatrical reminiscences” (Poland), “ALTFEST” (Romania), “Golden Mask”, (Russia), Fringe (Edinburgh, GB), BaltScandal (Estonia), “ Konfrontacie Teatralne” (Poland), Russian Seasons (Finland), BITE “Barbican International Theatre Event” (London, GB), Festival of Russian Art and Cinema (Nice, France), Nova Drama (Vilnius, Lithuania), Sztyka Ylitsy (Warsaw, Poland), SPAF Seoul Performing Arts Festival (Seoul, S.Corea), NET Festival (Russia) Baltic Circle (Finland), Barka (Budapest, Hungary), and others, participating in the World Caravan and the World theatrical Olympic games, produced by Slava Polunin.
In 00’s Formalny theatre was keep on touring, creating new performances and participating in different international projects. In 2001 the theatre had produced “Jacob Lenz” opera in collaboration with Goethe Institute. In 2004 - “Between Dog&Wolf” (created with support of Academy of Russian Art (ACT)
In 2007 Formalny theatre, supported by Alexandrinsky theatre and Russian Engineering theatre “AKHE”, had produced and performed “Gardeners” - variations to the “Cherry Garden” and Internet chats.
In December 2007 Formalny organized a concert composer and pianist of Oleg Karavaichuk in Smolny cathedral.
Andrey Moguchy is an ideologist and art-director of theatrical festivals, organized and produced by Formalny theatre: “Solntsevorot”, “Formalny theatre 10th Anniversary” and “Andrey Moguchy’s Theatrical Space”.
Awards:
1999 – the St. Petersburg Vedomosti newspaper Award at the Baltic House Festival for the performance “A Natural Household in Shambala” by A. Shipenko.
2000 – The Golden Sophit, the top St. Petersburg theater award for the performance “A School for Fools” by Sasha Sokolov.
2001 – The Golden Mask, the top Russian National Award for the performance “A School for Fools” by Sasha Sokolov, nomination of “The Theater Critics’ Award.”
2001 – Grand Prix at the Edinburg Fringe International Theater Festival, the Edinburgh Fringe First Award, for the performance “A School for Fools” by Sasha Sokolov.”
2001 – Grand Prix at the Belgrade BITEF International Theater Festival for the performance “A School for Fools” by Sasha Sokolov.
2004 - Grand Prix at the Festival of Russian Culture in Nice (France) for the performance “Between a Dog and a Wolf” by Sasha Sokolov’s novel.
2006 – The Golden Mask, the top Russian National Award for the performance “Between a Dog and a Wolf” after Sasha Sokolov’s novel; nominations “Novation” and the “Award of Critics and Journalists.”