Stanislavsky Believes! The “Theatre Olympiad” 2026 Will Unite the Entire Country

Partnership for Progress

The Union of Theatre Workers of Russia (STD RF) and Rostelecom have signed an agreement to launch the nationwide educational project “Theatre Olympiad.” Leveraging new digital tools, anyone will be able to participate through Rostelecom Lyceum, the company’s large-scale educational platform. The partnership was formalized by Ilya Pyatigorsky, Director of Digital Products at Rostelecom, and Daniyar Turusbeko, First Deputy Chairman and Head of STD RF’s Central Office.

“This partnership with Rostelecom is a strategic step for the Union of Theatre Workers of Russia. Ahead of our 150th anniversary in 2026, we are creating a modern, accessible environment for professional dialogue.

The project will unlock unique opportunities for the theatre community, empower young talents to make themselves known, and provide audiences with a new lens for exploring contemporary theatre,” Turusbeko emphasized.

To support Olympiad preparation, the platform will feature theoretical content, including the video lecture course “Konstantin Stanislavsky: In Search of the System,” created under the cultural alliance between Rostelecom and the MXAT Museum.

“Art and technology are not opposites—they’re allies. The Theatre Olympiad proves it. Very soon, the Rostelecom Lyceum online platform will become a space that unites classical traditions with the modern digital solutions our company is actively developing. We are proud to join forces with the Union of Theatre Workers of Russia to make culture and education exciting and accessible to everyone.”

Ilya Pyatigorsky

Director of Digital Products, Rostelecom

Every Participant Will Have an AI Assistant

Organizers are using modern technologies as a tool to boost engagement across the country and support participants during the competition. According to developers, participants who encounter difficulties choosing the correct answer will be able to consult an AI mentor developed by Rostelecom.

The project opens new opportunities for the theatre community to engage in meaningful professional dialogue within a technological environment, while also giving young performers and creators a platform to showcase their skills.

New Trends in Education

The initiative highlights the ongoing digitalization of the cultural sector and the growing use of IT tools to engage citizens in the creative sphere. Another key trend is the expansion of online learning formats—now increasingly common even in theatre education. For example, STD RF is also implementing the project “Theatre of Russia: From Heritage to Innovation.”

Rostelecom contributes heavily to the digital transformation of Russian education: the Rostelecom Lyceum platform offers students in grades 1–11 a vast library of learning materials, including blitz courses for school subjects, OGE test preparation, interactive English-language exercises, educational cartoons, and gamified lessons. All content complies with Russia’s national educational standards.

A Cultural Approach to Digitalization

The “Theatre Olympiad” represents an important step toward the digital transformation of Russia’s theatrical and cultural ecosystem, uniting a major technology company with a leading professional cultural institution.

The partnership has significant potential. This collaboration between a digital giant and the theatre community may accelerate the development of youth and regional theatre initiatives using digital tools. Local cultural projects—festivals, contests, hybrid performances—are likely to emerge. Over time, the scale may expand to include regional participation, VR/AR technologies, and interactive online theatre formats. The project could even become a model for international initiatives or a showcase for exporting Russian digital solutions in the cultural domain.