On Wednesday, Vladimir Putin met with popular Russian actor Vasily Lanovoi, People's Artist of the USSR and member of the Vakhtangov Theatre, at Novo-Ogaryovo. Culture Minister Alexander Avdeyev also attended the meeting.
Lanovoi told the prime minister that preparations are underway for the threatre's 90th anniversary celebration in November.
Prime Minister Putin promised that the government would provide the necessary assistance to organise the celebration.
They also discussed training of future actors. Lanovoi is head of the Shchukin Theatre College's Department of Stage Speech. He told prime minister that the acting profession is highly popular with young people. Two hundred applicants vie for each spot at Russia's various theatre institutes.
Putin and Lanovoi also discussed the attitude towards veterans of theatre and cinema and the need to provide care for people in need. They remembered the wonderful actor Vyacheslav Tikhonov who died in 2009. A monument has not yet been constructed at his grave in Novodevichye cemetery. The Culture Ministry will assist in the construction.
Larisa Kaftan