What's new

GITIS auditions in Kazakhstan

January 23, 2024

GITIS launches auditions in the Republic of Kazakhstan the upcoming spring as our school deepens ties with the country.

14 performances will be shown at the III International Student Festival of graduation performances “GITIS fest”

November 21, 2023

The festival will showcase 14 performances from various theater schools and theaters in cities such as Belgorod, Belgrade (Serbia), Vladivostok, Zarechny, Kazan, Moscow, New Delhi (India), St. Petersburg, Shanghai (China), and Yaroslavl. The festival aims to serve as a platform for dialogue and collaboration between major Russian and international theater schools.

The Russian Theater School has started in Kazakhstan

September 19, 2023

Representatives from 11 countries gathered on the shores of Lake Zerenda to immerse themselves in a ten-day training program under the guidance of the best instructors from the GITIS and leading creative universities in Kazakhstan

Stanislavsky and musical theatre

April 25, 2023

International conference dedicated to the 160th anniversary of Konstantin Stanislavsky’s birth as part of the strategic academic leadership program “Priority-2030”

Attention!

March 12, 2020

All the international festivals at GITIS are postponed

Stanislavsky’s Method Lives On

April 22, 2019

The Moscow Times visited GITIS and The Boris Shchukin Theater Institute to learn more about the method of the world-renowned director.

Check out our new booklet!

December 19, 2018

GITIS presents its new English booklet that contains all necessary information about institute, its traditions and unique study programs.

GITIS joined Forbes Universities ranking

June 29, 2018

Forbes magazine compiled the first ranking of Russian universities in order to assess the quality of Russian education and to find out which universities graduate young people with entrepreneurial streak, and even those who can later join the Forbes list or become a part of the Russian political elite.

GITIS International Students Give Interview

January 23, 2018

Russian Information Agency — RIA Novosti — took an interview from GITIS international students: Alya Hanin (Slovenia), Georgios Kutlis (Greece), and Daniela Petkovich (Serbia).

GITIS Alumnus Hits Oscar Short-List

December 20, 2017

“Loveless” — the film directed by GITIS alumnus Andrey Zvyagintsev — got short-listed for Oscar Best Foreign Language Film nomination.

GITIS Graduate Debut at La Scala

November 15, 2017

On November 12, Ruzil Gatin — a GITIS graduate — made his first appearance on La Scala stage in Milan (Ruzil graduated from GITIS Variety Department, prof. Borisov class).

Russian King Lear in Beijing

November 2, 2017

On October 25 GITIS students from Kamenkovich and Krimov directing class played King Lear at the WTEA 2017 International Theatre Festival in Beijing.

Beware of fake certificates!

October 30, 2017

Russian Institute of Theater Arts — GITIS is a well-recognized brand, so no wonder that some dishonest people are trying to exploit it. Here is an example of a fake GITIS certificate signed by a fake professor.

GITIS students visit Estonian Academy

October 10, 2017

Second-year students of Leonid Heifetz Directing class went to Tallinn as a second phase of student exchange program between GITIS and Estonian Academy of Music and Theater.

I want to be perceived as a Russian actor, not as a foreign one

July 22, 2022

In 2018, Lee Hyukjung came from South Korea to study at GITIS. Lee Hyukjung went through all challenging admission competitions and started studying at the department led by Sergei Yashin. Lee Hyukjung has already graduated from GITIS and is now ready to share his experience with us:

— Why have you decided to study at GITIS?

— I am 30 years old. When I lived in Korea, I often watched Anton Chekhov’s plays: “The Cherry Orchard”, “The Seagull”, “Three Sisters”, “Uncle Vanya” and others. To be honest, I didn’t fully understand these plays. I didn’t really get why Lopakhin shouted that he bought the Cherry Orchard, why Ranevskaya did not use Lopakhin’s advice.

I also wanted to know more about Russia. I wanted to understand what Stanislavsky’s system is and why there are so many famous Russian authors. I was just curious to know more. When I came to Russia, I first enrolled at the Shchepkin School (in the Korean course). We had an interpreter, who helped us and we played on stage in Korean. However, we almost never communicated with Russian students. I know that the education there is also excellent, but I just didn’t feel comfortable there. Then a friend of mine recommended me GITIS. His name is Kwon Jungtak, he did his post-graduate studies at GITIS, and now he works as a teacher in Korea. When he was speaking about GITIS, I saw pride in his eyes. That’s when I started dreaming of studying at GITIS.

— How did you get admitted to GITIS? Are there any tips you would like to share?

Before applying, I took preparatory courses at GITIS. Together with my Russian teacher, we prepared for admission process and various competitions. For one of the competitions, I learned a part from Bulgakov’s novel “The Master and Margarita”. To be honest, non-CIS foreigners can’t read Russian fluently, so we have to show the professors our dedication and desire to learn. I would say that the main task of the applicant is to understand how to show these traits to admission committee. When I was applying, I didn’t speak Russian very well and I was lucky enough to find help from Natalia, who is working at the International Department of GITIS. We keep staying in touch, and whenever I face problems or difficult situations in Russia, she is always there for me. I am grateful for all her help.

— Did you notice any difference between the Korean and Russian educational systems?

— I didn’t study at a theater academy in Korea, so I can’t really compare in this regard. However, when I told a friend who studied at a theater academy in Korea that GITIS had an accompanist and that we rehearse with live music, he was positively surprised and maybe even jealous.

— What surprised you the most during your studies at GITIS?

— Creativity is often born in conflict, so no one was afraid to speak their mind in GITIS. However, I can’t say that this always felt right for me. Sometimes during a conflict one can lose respect for another.

— What would you say was the highlight of your studies in GITIS?

— I would say that the most impressive aspect was the way we worked with our master (main professor of the course). Once during a break I asked him: “I’m going to the store now. What would you like to have for lunch?” He replied, “Thank you, but I don’t eat lunch when I rehearse. It’s always makes me sleepy.” The professor is 74 years old, and I know how important nutrition for a person of his age is. In my opinion, all GITIS professors show incredible dedication to their students and their work. They are a living example for the next generation of artists. We should be proud of our professors.

— Have you faced difficulties because of cultural differences or language barrier?

— It was always difficult. Even this interview is challenging for me, so I am using a dictionary. But I was never afraid of these challenges, because I always had professors and my favorite “Yashintsy” by my side.

— Did students in your class help you during your studies?

— All my classmates helped me from the very beginning. Honestly, when I started studying at GITIS, I couldn’t understand anything, but my classmates were always there for me. I will always remember that moment when Giya (Georgy Dievsky) asked me to show part of the play together.

— Did you use both Korean and Russian cultures while working on the plays and performances?

— I tried to speak Russian like Russian people, but my friends told me that I have an interesting accent. I can’t speak Russian as a Russian person, so I decided to just focus on the character: his live, emotions and traits. I didn’t want to hear from the audience: “He’s not Russian, that’s why he plays like that, we have to understand it”. I wanted to be perceived as a Russian actor, not as a foreigner.

— What are your plans for the future? Are you going to stay in Moscow, or will you return back to South Korea?

— I got a job here, so now I’m trying to get a new visa. If it goes well, I want to become an actor who successfully works in both Russia and Korea.

— What would you recommend to foreign students who are coming to study at GITIS?

— To choose how to exist and be perceived on stage: as a foreigner or as a Russian actor.

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