The Tempest
A marvelous and terrifying island, peopled by spirits and monsters, is the ideal setting for demonstrating how puppets can become extraordinarily convincing "actors". Caliban becomes an almost "human" monster and Prospero's magic brings the spirit Ariel to life as no stage performance ever could.
Director: Stanislav Sokolov, Designer: Helena Livanova

A Midsummer Night's Dream
The beauty of cel animation is that it can make the implausible seem possible. So the spirits of the haunted wood and the bewitching transformations of Titania, Oberon and the innocent tradesman Bottom, come to life with a treatment that complements Shakespeare's spectacular imagery.
Director and designer: Robert Saakiants

As You Like It
A comic tale of love-tom youth, with the Forest of Arden as its sylvan stage. The idyllic backgrounds and wistful moods of Rosalind and Celia are sympathetically created by the unusual and visually appealing medium of painting in oils on cels.
Director: Alexei Karayev, Designer: Valentin Olshvang

Hamlet
All animation techniques are painstaking, but that of painting on glass is especially so. This unusual medium succeeds impressively in capturing the ghostly presence of Hamlet's father and the agonized indecision of Hamlet himself, in this classic depiction of corruption and revenge.
Director: Natalia Orlova, Designer: Peter Kotov

Julius Caesar
Shakespeare's dramatization of the alliances and intrigues that surrounded and finally destroyed the great Roman General is rendered with style and subtlety by superb cel animation. This study of personal power versus the good of the state is still as provoking as ever.
Director: Yuri Kulakov, Designer: Galina Melka

King Richard lll
The richly rewarding technique of painting on glass has been uniquely explored for this blackest of black comedies. No compassion is shown by the hunchback King Richard, whose unquenchable thirst for power destroys his wife, his brother, his best friend and his nephews, the little princes in the tower.
Director: Natalia Orlova, Designer: Peter Kotov

Romeo and Juliet
The world's best-known love story. Rich cel animation captures the tension and romance felt by two young citizens of Verona, oppressed by family rivalries, yet bound by an all-consuming love. The contrasts between raging passions and tender moments are sensitively portrayed.
Director: Ephim Gambourg, Designer: Igor Makarov

Othello
The warmth of a Mediterranean setting contrasts with the coldness in Iago's heart, as he relentlessly turns his noble master, Othello, against the beautiful and innocent Desdemona. All the emotional intensity of Shakespeare's study of jealousy is conveyed vividly by striking cel animation.
Director and designer: Nikolai Serebriakov

The Winters Tale
Exquisitely sculpted and lifelike puppets perform this touching tale of rage, remorse and forgiveness. The King's fit of temper results in the death of his wife Hermione and his young son, and his baby daughter Perdita is banished. Sixteen years later, after the intervention of humbler mortals, the gods allow him to find his daughter and restore Hermione to life.
Director: Stanislav Sokolov, Designer: Helena Livanova

Macbeth
The all-enveloping evil of Shakespeare's bloodiest work is captured with arresting and graphic intensity by powerful cel animation. Awash with murder, madness and dark forces, it is easy to understand the superstition that causes those in the theatre to refer to Macbeth with an unusual respect.
Director and Designer: Nikolai Serebriakov

The Taming of the Shrew
Love blows hot and cold for the impulsive couple Petruchio and Kate. Convincing puppet animation catches the mood of their stormy relationship in a play that uses comic twists and turns to chart the often surprising course of a powerful love affair.
Director: Aida Ziablikova, Designer: Olga Titova

Twelfth Night
Dour Malvolio, beautiful Countess Olivia, disguised Viola and all the actors of this golden comedy are played by sophisticated puppets in this charming rendition. Achieving an exceptional fluency of movement for stop-frame animation, the film is utterly absorbing and remarkably convincing.
Director: Maria Muat, Designer: Ksenia Prytkova