Students of the Acting faculty (class of Valery Sarkisov) have returned from their first international tour with an outstanding result. At the XX International University Theatre Festival in Monastir, Tunisia, the production “Dear Women”, based on Alexander Ostrovsky’s comedy, received the Grand Prix of the festival, while our student Gleb Nurmukhambetov was awarded the prize for Best Actor.
The production was directed by Marina Orel, Faculty member. The festival brought together student theatre companies from different countries, giving the GITIS students an opportunity to perform for an international audience and exchange experience with young theatre-makers from around the world.
The performance was particularly significant for the students as their first international tour and their first experience performing for a non-Russian-speaking audience. Despite the language barrier, Dear Women received a warm response from both international festival participants and members of the Russian community in Tunisia.
Following the performance, the GITIS students took part in an open discussion with festival participants and audience members. The students also became part of the festival’s wider educational and cultural programme, meeting theatre-makers from different countries and sharing experiences outside the theatre.
The participation of GITIS in the XX International University Theatre Festival in Tunisia was carried out within the framework of the Priority 2030 Strategic Academic Leadership Programme.
Congratulations to our teachers and students on this remarkable first international tour!

