Timofey Aleksandrovich Kulyabin (; born 10 October 1984, Izhevsk) is a Russian theater and opera director.
Kulyabin was one of the most prominent young theatre directors in recent years in Russia. After graduating from the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts (course of Oleg Kudryashov) in 2007 he is successfully working in drama and opera theatres throughout the country and abroad. Kulyabin has worked on 15 drama and 2 opera productions. Critics mark his ability to switch between large and chamber stages with equally strong and original concepts. His productions of the classic dramas and operas positively impact the professional and non-professional theater communities. Kulyabin's Onegin in the Red Torch theatre has been awarded a special prize of the Russian Performing Arts Festival and National Theater Award Golden Mask.
His production of Wagner's Tannhäuser in December 2014 was met by great critical acclaim in Novosibirsk Opera and Ballet Theatre. Its cast included Wagnerian Heldentenor Stig Fogh Andersen, Irina Churilova as Elisabeth, and as Landgrave. Some aspect of the production, notably the depiction of Tannhäuser in the Venusberg scene, led to criminal proceedings following a complaint by the Orthodox archbishop of Novosibirsk and Berdsk, Tikhon (Leonid Grigoryevich Yemelyanov). The accusation was supported before the court by the deputy prosecutor of Novosibirsk, Igor Stasyulis, who shared the fascist views of Aleksandr Dugin and had maintained close links with orthodox fundamentalists such as . A magistrate court later dismissed those allegations. Stasyulis appealed this decision but subsequently had to withdraw his appeal. Later, the Minister of Culture, Vladimir Medinsky, dismissed the theatre's director, Boris Mezdrich, and appointed Vladimir Kekhman as the new director, who then canceled all further performances.
After the success of his Onegin and #shakespearsonnets in the Theatre of Nations in Moscow, he has been invited to the Bolshoi Theatre to create a new Don Pasquala production in April 2016. Recently Kulyabin took the position of artistic director of the Red Torch theatre in Novosibirsk.
On May 2, 2022, the Bolshoi announced the cancellation of further performances of his adaptation of Don Pasquala. Kulyabin had left Russia due to his criticism of the Russo-Ukrainian War. Kulyabin is now believed to be based in Europe.
ëThe Queen of Spadesû after Alexander Pushkin
All-Russian Festival ëVolga Theatre Seasonsû in Samara; award in ëBest Directorû nomination.
Theatre Festival/Contest ëParadiseû organized by Novosibirsk Branch of the Russian Theatre Association; award in ëBest DirectorâÂÂs Debutû nomination.
ëA Mortal Trickû by Oleg Antonov
Theatre Festival ëSiberian Transitû in Barnaul; an honorary diploma.
ëMacbethû by William Shakespeare
Regional Theatre Festival ëParadiseû in Novosibirsk; award in ëThe Best Staging Conceptû nomination.
Award ëA Person of the Yearû of culture and art (Novosibirsk)
ëElectraû by Euripides
Theatre award of Moscow daily newspaper ë Moskovskij Komsomoletsû, award in best small scale production nomination
ëOneginû by Alexander Pushkin
National Theatre Festival ëGolden Maskû, Drama and Puppet Theatre Jury's Special Award
ëKillû ëBest productionû award of Theatre Festival ëNew Siberian Transitû
Personal Grant of the Government of Russian Federation
ë#shakespearsonnetsû
Theatre award of Moscow daily newspaper ë Moskovskij Komsomoletsû, award in best small scale production nomination
ëTannhäuserû by Richard Wagner
ëProduction of the yearû award by magazine ëMuzykalnoye obozrenieû
Audience ÃÂhoice award ëTeatralû, award in best musical production nomination
ëThree sistersû by Anton Chekhov
ëProduction of the yearû award by Theatre Critics Association
ëThe three sistersû by Anton Chekhov
National Theatre Festival ëGolden Maskû, Drama and Puppet Theatre Jury's Special Award ëEnsemble in the playû
Nomination for the Europe Prize Theatrical Realities