Mikhail Maeu, head of the artistic and production department at the Belarusian State Puppet Theatre in Minsk, former technical stage director at the Kupala Theatre, and a prominent figure in Belarusian theatre, has died.
“We have lost a person without whom no performance would take place. Every production that is performed today and will be performed tomorrow will preserve the memory of and gratitude to Mikhail for his work and dedication,” the Puppet Theatre troupe said in announcing the loss.
Mikhail Maeu had worked at the Minsk Puppet Theatre since 2022. Before that, he served at the Kupala Theatre, where he was an important figure and went through every stage of backstage life. In older playbills, his name appeared in the line “Performance managed by…” He worked as an assistant director, later became troupe manager, and eventually headed the artistic and production department. It was Maeu who, in his capacity as production director, was fully responsible for the technical operation and launch of the Kupala Theatre stage following its major reconstruction in 2013.
In August 2020, Mikhail openly expressed his civic position by signing a joint appeal by prominent artists and doctors calling on the authorities to stop violence.
While remaining deputy general director for artistic and production matters at the theatre after its crackdown and restructuring, he commented ironically in November 2020 on the authorities’ attempts to recruit a new troupe through auditions: “There will be no theatre! At least not this season. Not until the situation changes.”
In 2022, Mikhail Maeu moved to the Belarusian State Puppet Theatre, where he worked until his final days.
Sources in Belarusian theatre circles told Reform.news that Mikhail Maeu suffered a second heart attack two weeks ago.
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