The legendary Maly Drama Theatre of St. Petersburg, described by Peter Brook as ‘the finest ensemble theatre in Europe’, return to the West End with their internationally renowned adaptation of Life And Fate – one of two plays in their eagerly anticipated forthcoming London season.

The first international company to win an Olivier Award, Maly Drama Theatre are playing in London’s Theatreland for the first time in over a decade, with the acclaimed troupe bringing their internationally celebrated stage adaptation of Vasily Grossman’s magnum opus Life And Fate, which plays in repertory at Theatre Royal Haymarket with Uncle Vanya.

Adapted for the stage for the very first time, from the novel which was initially banned because of the parallels it drew between Nazism and Soviet Communism, Life And Fate is a sweeping panorama of Soviet Society, an epic tale of a country told through the fate of a single Jewish family, the Shtrum’s.

From Nazi concentration camps to the Gulags of Siberia and the Soviet nuclear programme, as the battle of Stalingrad looms large the characters must work out their destinies in a world torn by ideological tyranny and war.

This critically acclaimed production, winner of the Golden Mask award for Best Play, has toured around the world since its première in 2007, shining a light on the heart of 20th century darkness.

This production is directed by Maly Drama Theatre Artistic Director Lev Dodin, under whose 35 year tenure the company has flourished globally and won international awards including state prizes of Russian and the USSR, Golden Mask Awards, and an Olivier Award.

Peoples’ Artist of Russia, Stanislavsky and Golden Soffit Award-winner Sergey Kuryshev, leads the cast. Kuryshev is joined by Tatiana Shestakova, whose credits with the company include the role of Anna in Stars In The Morning Sky – the production which saw the company become the first international company to win an Olivier Award in 1989.

Maly Drama Theatre of St. Petersburg’s Royal Theatre, Haymarket season is presented by Oliver King and Ekaterina Kashyntseva for Belka Productions with the support of Roman Abramovich, Sir Leonard Blavatnik , Yuri Shefler & Alexander Machkevitch.

Life And Fate is performed in Russian with English surtitles.

Dramas have a rich history in the West End; find out more about plays in London.