Worker and Kolkhoz Woman

“Worker and Kolkhoz Woman” — Costume Design by Fyodor Dodonov & Haik Simonyan for the Opera-Bouffe at Zaryadye Concert Hall

In 2019, costume designers Fyodor Dodonov and Haik Simonyan created the costumes for the large-scale opera-bouffe “Worker and Kolkhoz Woman”, staged at Moscow’s Zaryadye Concert Hall.

The production brought together some of Russia’s leading theatre and music professionals. The project was conceived by theatre artist and producer Pavel Kaplevich, who also served as one of its producers, alongside producer Yulia Morozova. The opera celebrated several landmark anniversaries at once: the 80th anniversary of VDNH, the 130th anniversary of sculptor Vera Mukhina’s birth, and the iconic Worker and Kolkhoz Woman monument, one of the most recognizable symbols of the twentieth century. The score was composed by Vladimir Nikolaev, the production was directed by Evgeny Kulagin, conducted by Philipp Chizhevsky, and featured renowned performers including Sergey Mazaev, Ilze Liepa, and leading soloists of Russian musical theatre.

The central characters are the legendary Worker and Kolkhoz Woman, brought to life as Nikolai and Anna. According to the story, they leave their monumental pedestal and enter a fantastical world where historical figures, artistic icons, and fairy-tale characters coexist. Blending historical events with imagination, satire, music, and contemporary theatrical language, the production creates a unique visual and dramatic experience.

Costumes as Part of the Dramaturgy

For this production, Fyodor Dodonov and Haik Simonyan designed dozens of original costumes, each serving not merely as character attire but as an essential element of the production’s visual storytelling.

The Worker and the Kolkhoz Woman were dressed in distinctive silver costumes inspired by the metallic surface of Vera Mukhina’s famous sculpture. For Vera Mukhina and architect Boris Iofan, the designers created elegant minimalist silhouettes emphasizing their creative connection with the legendary monument. Particular attention was also given to the costumes of Pablo Picasso, Marlene Dietrich, Joseph Stalin, as well as a variety of fairy-tale and grotesque characters, combining historical drama with the playful spirit of opera-bouffe.

The original costume sketches reveal how the production’s visual language evolved—from the earliest artistic concepts to the finished costumes brought to life on stage.

Critical Acclaim

The premiere received extensive media coverage. A reviewer for Rossiyskaya Gazeta, Russia’s national newspaper, praised the costume design, describing the stage imagery as “an impressive achievement by the young artists Haik Simonyan and Fyodor Dodonov.” The review highlighted the striking silver costumes of the Worker and Kolkhoz Woman, Stalin’s immaculate white latex overcoat, and the imaginative designs created for Picasso, Marlene Dietrich, Hitler, Zmey Gorynych, and many other characters featured in the production.

Production Trailer

TV Kultura Feature (rus)

The creators of Bionica Show, Fyodor Dodonov and Haik Simonyan, work under the creative brand FEDYA&HAIK. Members of the Creative Union of Artists of Russia, they work at the intersection of theatre, fashion, and contemporary art, creating paintings, designer clothing, theatrical costumes, and signature fragrances. Their work on the opera-bouffe “Worker and Kolkhoz Woman” is another example of their ability to transform artistic concepts into visually powerful, expressive, and unforgettable stage worlds.