"Boris Godunov" is still considered the most important historical drama in Russia. It describes a dark and mysterious period, the 16th century. late 17th century beginning In Russia, this period is called "The Great Turmoil" for short. The tyrant Ivan the Terrible, characterized by extreme cruelty and territory-conquering campaigns, leaves to his successors a treasury heavily depleted by wars. His son Feodor is struggling to control the situation, which is not made easier by the constant struggle for influence behind the tsar's back by the noble Rurikovich clans and the newly risen boyar Godunov and Romanov clans. Finally, Boris Godunov is announced as the new Tsar. Just at that time, a natural disaster hits Russia - three years of unprecedented cold: the temperature fell below zero on summer nights, so a terrible famine began in the country, from which about half a million people died. The landlords, unable to feed the serfs, simply chased them outside. Masses of hungry people flocked to Moscow, where bread and money were distributed to the starving by order of Tsar Boris.

Not only that, but the story of Ivan the Terrible's youngest son, Dmitri, who died under mysterious circumstances, is quick to be used by tsar haters, who spread the word that Dmitri was killed on the orders of Boris Godunov himself, who wanted to eliminate a minor rival on the way to the throne. Former monk Grigorijus Otrepievs escapes to Lithuania and declares himself to be Tsar Dmitrii, who miraculously survived. He is supported by Polish and Lithuanian aristocracy, volunteers from Russian lands flock to his army assembled by ATR nobles, seeking to take revenge on Moscow for wrongs. A major war is looming, and a number of smaller rebellions are raging within the country that could escalate into civil war any day. All this falls to Boris Godunov, a lowly boyar who managed to become Tsar of Moscow through his own cunning.

One of the most famous Polish directors, Janas Klata, often chooses to stage classics, but he always interprets them in his own way, so we will definitely not see a classic historical-costume drama on stage. J. Klata is able to accurately and subtly bring the literary material closer to the modern viewer, without losing his characteristic courage and sharpness. Lovers of Lithuanian theater could see for themselves in 2021. at the international theater festival "TheATRIUM", the program of which featured J. Klata's play "Faust" (Pod Palmovkou theater, Czech Republic).