The graduation play Diary of a Madman by Tufan Imamutdinov in the Russian University of Theatre Arts (GITIS) became popular among the young people at once. Preserving all Gogol’s irony and satire the young director has brought that portion of student madness and youthful ardour that has made Poprishchin an absolute hero of the young people of today. The dashing, courageous and charismatic Poprishchin of Alyabiev is nothing like a madman; it’s just that the society surrounding him cannot bear his furious rhythms and reckless dreams. Tufan Imamutdinov received an award of the Third International of Students’ Extracts Director and Space in the category “For Artistic Boldness. For Joining the Form, the Content and the Space. For the Drive!“ (2010). The production participated in the Festival Premières in Strasbourg, France (2012).

The scenery recreating the 39^th lecture hall in GITIS has been specially built for the renovated version of the performance. The set designer is Timofey Ryabushinsky.

The premiere performance took place on 4 December 2012.

Running time: 50 minutes.