Play "Sobachje Serdze" (ru) in Germany from 2 to 11 November 2026

"A Dog's Heart" is coming to theaters across Germany this fall!

The cult classic play "A Dog's Heart," directed by the renowned Valery Zolotukhin, marks the 100th anniversary of the writing of Mikhail Bulgakov's satirical novella of the same name. Valery Zolotukhin’s production is rightly recognized as one of the best. A spectacular premiere from the creators of the sensational production “The Master and Margarita”—the Bulgakov Theater—which successfully toured German cities in 2019, 2021, and 2024!

“A Dog’s Heart”

Mikhail Bulgakov wrote this novella in the 1920s, when the heroes’ era had passed and only everyday life remained—which is, in itself, a test for humanity. It was the height of the construction of socialism, the eternal housing crisis, ruin in homes, and, most importantly, in people’s minds.

“A Dog’s Heart,” like many other works by the brilliant Bulgakov, has had a unique fate. The work was written as early as 1925, but remained banned for over 60 years and was distributed only through samizdat. The release of the film, starring E. Evstigneev in the lead role, received widespread acclaim and not only attracted new readers but also sparked the interest of many renowned theater directors, who offered their own interpretations of Bulgakov’s legendary text. Valery Zolotukhin’s production is rightly considered one of the best.

So, as a result of one of the most complex experiments, Professor Philip Philipovich Preobrazhensky makes a stunning discovery: after a pituitary gland transplant, his test dog Sharik turns into a human! This sensational news brings the world-renowned professor widespread recognition. However, the experimentalist’s joy is short-lived: the question of whether Sharik—later known as Poligraf Poligrafych Sharikov—could become a “highly developed psychic personality” is very quickly called into question. Bulgakov’s vivid satire is conveyed in the play with remarkable elegance and conviction.

Cast

The role of Professor Preobrazhensky is played by the unsurpassed Oleg Golovko.

The role of Sharikov is played by the magnificent Leonid Greenberg —a theater and film actor, as well as a star of Broadway musicals.

In the role of Bormental is Boris Bogdanov, a graduate of VGIK (V. B. Akhadov’s workshop) and an actor at the Narva Theater “Ilmarine,” known to audiences from the films *What Men Talk About*, *Anka from Moldavanka*, and *Balabol*.

The role of Shvonder is played by Valentin Melnik, a graduate of the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts, who has appeared in popular projects such as “The Return of Mukhtar,” “The Merry Quarter,” “Super Cops,” and “Defectives.”

The play also features theater and film actors Elizaveta Lebed, Anastasia Grishchuk, and Alexei Avramenko.