KHOLSTOMER: The History of a Horse

Essence Theatre and Theater 86, in collaboration with the State Youth Theatre of Uzbekistan, present Kholstomer - a breathtaking production directed by the internationally acclaimed Nabi Abdurakhmanov, Honored Worker of Arts of Uzbekistan. This visionary adaptation of Leo Tolstoy’s The History of a Horse has won multiple international awards and been hailed as “A Hymn to Humans.”

This dynamic reimagining fuses poetic storytelling, striking movement, and a haunting musical score by Dmitriy Yanov-Yanovsky to bring to life the eternal quest for freedom and the spirit’s unbreakable will to soar. In a mesmerizing blend of rhythm, physicality, and deeply emotional performances, Kholstomer follows a legendary horse, an outcast among his own kind, as he reflects on a life of love, betrayal, and the unrelenting pursuit of honor.

A rare theatrical experience, this production captures the profound essence of Tolstoy’s work in a way that speaks to today’s audiences - melding past and present, philosophy and poetry, all in a single, unforgettable performance.

Adaptation by Mark Rozovsky and Nabi Abdurakhmanov
Directed by Nabi Abdurakhmanov
Verses by Yuriy Ryashentsev
Translated by Vickie Patricia Abel and Abdurashid Nishanov
Composer – Dmitriy Yanov-Yanovsky
Set Designer – Igor Gulenko
Costume designer – Igor Gulenko and Vassa Vasileva
Choreography by Shukhrat Tokhtasimov, Malika Iskandarova and Kamilla Abdurakhmanova
Art Producer: Katya Saturday

Cast: Kamilla Abdurakhmanova, Obid Abdurakhmanov, Isaac Aaron Echegoyen, Can Deniz Ezraim, Deborah Gerofsky, Anatolii Ishchenko, Yehonatan Rayer, Alexandra Recknagel, Natasha Skutka, Julia Sokol, Stalina Guberchenko and Amir Zarkani.

Performed in English.

Doors open 30 minutes before a performance. Late comers will not be admitted.