Autobiographical novellas about the Soviet era, infused with irony and nostalgia. The series of stories by Sergey Dovlatov "Our People" consists of 12 autobiographical novellas united by a single narrative. For Lev Shechtman, who wrote the play based on the stories and directed the performance, nostalgic notes blend with humor. The relationships among family members are familiar to everyone, and the history of the country is made up of the fates of specific individuals, while the characters in the play are artistic images, products of the author's imagination. There are no positive or negative characters here, as the same Dovlatov character can embody both paradise and hell. The play is filled with turbulent, unpredictable life, reminiscent of a large communal apartment society, where the boiling passions are akin to borscht simmering in a large pot. The word "ABANAMAT!", which became the title of the production, is an invention of the writer's Armenian grandfather. This exclamation could express anger, irritation, delight, or surprise. In the cycle "Our People", it is uttered by a gloomy, stern, and taciturn old man who once rose from the chair he had not left for the last decade, walked to the edge, and stepped off... Director Lev Shechtman currently lives in America. The repertoire of the Youth Theater includes two more of his productions: "Blue Roses" (based on Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie") and "Job" (based on the novel by J. Roth). For more performances in St. Petersburg, check our website in the theater section. Where to go in Petersburg? We tell you on KudaGo.