Annotation: How does a play originate? How does that singular image of a literary text, only later brought to life on stage, appear in the mind of a director for the first time? 'In My Own Words' presents nine playscripts from famous productions created by the artist, director and scenographer Dmitry Krymov. These directorial scripts, written by Krymov himself, offer a view of these productions at the moment of their conception. This fascinating process, which Krymov calls “the course of affairs”, is itself a play of words and imagination—the driving concept behind his theater — the Dmitry Krymov Laboratory. 'In My Own Words' includes an introduction by Inna Solovieva, a prominent scholar of Russian theater.

“Over the course of sixteen years – since I began staging productions – not all at once, but rather quickly a technique, a method, a system came into being… no, better yet – and less pretentiously – a way, a way of beginning the work came into being.

I write a script, which is not the play, but something that I call ‘the course of affairs’, and which is a record of the performance-to-be from beginning to the end, including music, noises, pauses, mise-en-scenes and places for improvisation. I bring this figment of my imagination to the company of artists and actors, and we begin to revive—that is, to rehearse. This ‘course of affairs’ is a plan, a scheme for revival.”

Dmitry Krymov