And the show goes on

As Russia began to come to terms with the terror attack at a theatre in Moscow, on Friday the actors of the hit Russian classical musical, N...

As Russia began to come to terms with the terror attack at a theatre in Moscow, on Friday the actors of the hit Russian classical musical, Nord-Ost, were backing preparing to go on stage.

On Friday, they started rehearsals for a new concert, Nord-Ost, We Are With You, to be held at Rossiya state central hall on November 9-10.

‘‘In truth, the first rehearsal of the show should be only an organisational one. We have to determine who are able to sing and who are yet to tune in their vocal chords. The roles have to be redistributed,’’ the press service of the musical said, referring to the recent hostage tragedy at the theatre building in Dubrivka.

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Among the 119 hostages who died in the special operation by Russian forces at the theatre building last week, there were 18 actors, musicians and other professionals of the musical, director of the Nord-Ost, Georgy Vasilyev said.

The actors started rehearsals at the Culture Club on Ovchinnikovsky Lane. ‘‘We will soon be able to return to the building in Dubrovka as the authorities promised to finally lift cordons and open the hall today,’’ he said.

The leading star of the musical, Katya Guseva, performing the role of Katya Tatarinova, is doing her rehearsals in a circus. Her performance in the musical contains not only signing but also elements of acrobatics.

Speaking about the new version of the concert, the producer of Nord-Ost, Alexander Tsekalo, said that the original programme of the concert would be significantly changed.

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Nord-Ost (North-East in German) is based on Venyamin Kaverin’s work, Two Captains.

The romantic novel recounts the story of two students and their destinies during the Soviet times.

‘‘The very tone of the concert will change now. Instead of a merry celebration of the anniversary of the first performance of the musical, which the programme Nord-Ost Hosts World Musicals should have presented on November 9-10, the concert will be a manifestation of civil courage dedicated to the victims of the act of terrorism at Dubrovka,’’ producer Tsekalo said.