“Anna and Lev”

“Anna and Lev” is a monodrama about the life of Anna Akhmatova and her son Lev Gumilyov, their complex relationship set against the backdrop of historical upheavals. For him, she was a mother; for everyone else, she was a great poet.

Sukhumi State Drama Theater

Svetlana Ustinova performs both roles, turning the stage into a space of personal confession. It is a story about the longing to be heard by loved ones, about a dialogue that both mother and son sought, but which never truly happened.

The premiere of “Anna and Lev” took place in Los Angeles and was met with ovations from audiences in Berlin, Paris, Zurich, Monaco, Riga, and Tallinn.

Text — Olga Khenkina; Svetlana Ustinova.
Director — Olga Khenkina.
Performed by — Svetlana Ustinova.