Galina Konovalova

[1] During World War II, a bomb struck the Vakhtangov Theatre, heavily damaging the building and killing several actors.

[2] Konovalova stated that, "It was a 'recommendation' from above; a strong recommendation!," but the Vakhtangov "managed to remain, during all those years, a highly intellectual part of society," according to her.

[1] Restrictions on theater productions were relaxed in the mid-1950s, while the General Directorate for the Protection of State Secrets in the Press (Glavlit) was abolished in 1991, allowing for more artistic freedom.

[1] Beginning in 2007, Konovalova finally achieved fame with the arrival of a new Lithuanian director, Rimas Tuminas, at the Vakhtangov Theatre.

"[1] In 2012, Tuminas and Vakhtangov Theatre opened a limited-run production of Uncle Vanya in London's West End.