The Yakhontov International Reading Competition is a competition of dramatic reading held in Nizhny Novgorod in October 2026. The event revived a historic competition that had been suspended for a quarter of a century. The project was carried out with the support of the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives, the Union of Theatre Workers of Russia, and the government of Nizhny Novgorod Region.[1]
Venues and Program
The competition's venues were the Pakgauz concert hall and the Nizhny Novgorod Drama Theatre, places associated with the 130th anniversary of the All-Russian Industrial and Art Exhibition of 1896.[1] Over several days, participants performed works of Russian classics, as well as Soviet poetry and prose. The jury assessed diction, intonation, rhythm, and the logic of speech, as well as the depth of interpretation and the ability to create an artistic image through voice and movement.[2]
Applications came from across the whole country, from Kaliningrad to Vladivostok, said project director Anastasia Perova.[1]
Jury and Selection Committee
The three competition rounds were judged by a selection committee headed by actress and teacher Natalya Fenkina. Its members were teacher Natalya Voloshina, actor and director Vitalijs Semenovs, director and teacher Yulia Bystrova, and actress and producer Darya Khramtsova (Gordeeva).[1]
The final round was judged by a jury chaired by People's Artist of Russia Vladimir Mashkov, chairman of the Union of Theatre Workers of Russia. Its members included People's Artist of Russia Sergey Bezrukov (also the competition's artistic director), Marina Brusnikina, Ekaterina Klimova, Anna Banshchikova, and Ivan Pachin.[2]
Results
Three laureates were announced following the competition on October 19, 2026:[1]
- 1st place — Daniil Pasynkov, a student at the Higher School of Performing Arts (Konstantin Raikin's Theater School);
- 2nd place — Badma Rakov, a student at the Boris Shchukin Theater Institute;
- 3rd place — Anastasia Sitnikova, a student at Oleg Tabakov's Theater School.
The winners received cash prizes and the recreated honorary medals of the competition.[2] According to Sergey Bezrukov, the jury's decision was unanimous — three had to be chosen from the six finalists.[1]
Significance and Prospects
Natalya Sukhanova, Minister of Culture of Nizhny Novgorod Region, noted a symbolic parallel between the revival of the competition and the restoration of memory of the 1896 All-Russian Exhibition — both events were preceded by "deliberate oblivion."[1] Vladimir Mashkov stated that the competition will be held annually under the auspices of the Union of Theater Workers of the Russian Federation.[2] The competition has been revived in the anniversary year of the Union of Theater Workers and its Nizhny Novgorod branch.[1]
Sources
- NIA "Nizhny Novgorod" — The Names of the Winners of the International Yakhontov Competition Have Been Announced, Nizhny Novgorod News
- Vremya N — The Winners of the International Yakhontov Competition Named in Nizhny Novgorod