Russian actress Liya Akhedzhakova had her Tashkent stage performance cancelled on November 1 just hours before it was due to begin.
The production of the play My Grandson Veniamin, which features the People's Artist of Russia in the lead role, was called off at the Turkiston Palace on the evening of the scheduled show.
According to an announcement on the venue website, the performance collapsed after delivery delays prevented the production's stage scenery from reaching the Uzbek capital. The cargo failed to arrive in the city by the appointed date, leaving organisers unable to prepare the stage for the evening show.
A statement issued by the cultural venue explained that the event had to be cancelled for technical reasons. The theatre administration added that organisers were unfortunately unable to find a new date to stage the production at the venue.
Organisers confirmed that ticket holders will be able to return their tickets and receive a full refund. The venue did not specify whether My Grandson Veniamin would be staged in Tashkent at any point in the future.
Scenery delays in Tashkent
The Turkiston Palace is one of the principal cultural and concert complexes in Tashkent, the capital of Uzbekistan. The major arts hall regularly hosts touring theatrical troupes, classical music concerts, and visiting international artists.
Akhedzhakova is one of the most prominent performers in modern Russian theatre and cinema. She earned nationwide popularity across the Soviet Union for her memorable appearances in classic comedy films directed by Eldar Ryazanov, including the 1975 classic The Irony of Fate.
The honorary rank of People's Artist of Russia is the nation's highest artistic title for stage performers, awarded for exceptional contributions to the performing arts.
Dispute over state honours
The actress subsequently moved to Israel. Her departure and public standing have made her a frequent target for critics in Moscow, where some conservative figures have demanded that authorities officially strip her of her honorary titles.
Fellow Russian actress Lyudmila Porgina recently spoke out in her defence. Porgina, the widow of the celebrated Soviet actor Nikolai Karachentsov, described the calls to revoke Akhedzhakova's formal titles as unfair, standing up for her veteran colleague amid the ongoing controversy.
