Sergei Dovlatov – The Suitcase

Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. February 2-3, 2026.

A stage adaptation of Sergei Dovlatov’s cult classic The Suitcase.

Starring: Alexey Kortnev (musician, theater and film actor, frontman of the “Neschastny Sluchay” band), Alexey Agranovich (actor, director, producer, and artistic director of the Gogol Center in 2021–2022), Semyon Treskunov, Valentin Samohin, and Anna Tsagarelli.
Directed by Alexey Gaylit; Set Design by Nina Kobiashvili; Lighting Design by Vladislav Frolov; Sound Design by Mikhail Sokolik; Lyrics by Alexey Kortnev and Aram Gyurjyan.

When the protagonist leaves the Soviet Union for the United States, he takes just one small suitcase with him. Years later, he opens it – and inside are objects that carry the weight of an entire past. Each item sparks a story: funny, bittersweet, and deeply human.
These are stories about the people, the moments, the emotions that once filled his life. Piece by piece, they form a vivid mosaic of the Soviet era – familiar, intimate, instantly recognizable. Dovlatov’s signature blend of gentle melancholy, sharp irony, and subtle metaphor comes alive on stage, brought to life by a stellar cast.
The original music, written specifically for this production, creates a unique atmosphere where laughter sits side by side with nostalgia, and simple stories unfold into timeless reflections on love, friendship, and the search for oneself.
This is a play about fitting an entire life into a single suitcase – and about holding on to warmth and memory when you’re far from home. And about how, even in the hardest times, we’re always left with something that keeps us going: memory, love, hope.

All pictures: flic.kr/s/aHBqjCK8P9