Majesty in minimalism

Renowned for his fidelity to original texts, Tuminas consistently avoided adding scenes not present in source material throughout his career, as could be seen in his adaptations of Eugene Onegin, and Faust. Prokhorov says the approach extended to War and Peace, where Tuminas created a world that balances faithfulness to Tolstoy's narrative with poetic innovation.

Contrary to expectations, the adaptation features a minimalist and contemporary stage design. Absent are the opulent balls and lavish settings of the novel. Instead, the vast, empty stage is dominated by a large wall. Actors traverse this space, using poetic and precise performances to evoke Tolstoy's complex characters and themes.

Despite the abstract set, the audience is transported back to 19th-century Russia, and experiences the era's turbulence.

Tuminas was an old friend of Chinese theater lovers and several of his productions, including Eugene Onegin, and The Three Sisters, were performed here. In 2019, he worked with Chinese artists on a stage adaptation of Goethe's epic, Faust.

In March 2024, while Faust was touring China, Tuminas passed away at the age of 72.

Calling him a "genius director with extraordinary artistic talent and a profound sense of beauty", Olga Lerman, who plays the role of Natasha in War and Peace, says: "Although he died, we try to keep his spirit in this play. We cannot share the stage with him, but we strive to bring his grand vision to life through our collective efforts."

"I watched Tuminas' War and Peace twice, in Guangzhou and Beijing. I cried and was overwhelmed by the director's interpretation," actor and director Zhang Guoli wrote in a social media post. "The world is in misery, but people still show a passion and desire to live on, which is a beautiful thing portrayed by the director in this production."