MEYERHOLD VSEVOLOD: (1874-1940) Russian Theatre Director and Actor. Best known for his provocative experimental works and symbolism in an unconventional theatre. Creator of the acting system called biomechanics. Meyerhold was arrested, tortured and executed after a forced confession during the Great Purge. A rare and excellent A.L.S., `V. Meyerhold´, in Cyrillic, two pages, folio, Hendaye, France, 26<sup>th</sup> July 1930, to Vladimir Lvovich, in Cyrillic. Meyerhold on a lengthy letter first refers to a scrapbook stating in part `Argus de la Presse is a robbery. I beg you to refrain from ordering the scrapbook from them. I am sorry to bother you with this matter. But you will surely agree that….this book is too expensive (600 fr). When I will be in Moscow, I will try to get to an agreement with the museum and convince them to order a full scrapbook. Being objective, maybe it is not that expensive, taking into account that the compilation must be done post factum. But as I have not received money yet from Moscow, I cannot afford such costs.´ Meyerhold further refers to his visa permits and his stay in France, and states in part `When you and I were at the Police Prefecture, myself and Zinaida Nikolaevna made a petition to the Minister in order to extend the visa for two more months. But at the Secretariat of Isnard, we were only given papers (Récépissé de demande de carte d'identité) that are valid only until the 7<sup>th</sup> of August… The day we had left Paris, we received a notification to go to the office of Le Chef du Service des Étrangers… When we received our Récépissé at the Secretariat of Isnard (7-7-1930), we were given a right to stay in France, so we went to Hendaye-Plage, basing on what the Secretary had said, that we should come to the Prefecture on the 7<sup>th</sup> August 1930.´ Meyerhold tries to extend his stay in France, further saying `Could it be possible, dear, Vladimir Lvovich, not to leave the Hendaye-Plage harbour before the 11^th August (expiry date for our aller et retour railway tickets). I enclose a piece of paper with our signatures and ask you to submit a petition for extension of stay to the Secretary of Isnard… Greetings from Zin[aida] Nik[olaevna].´ Meyerhold concludes his letter adding last sentences to the borders. VG 

 

 Zinaida Nikolaevna Reich (1894-1939) Russian Actress. One of the main figures of the Meyerhold Theatre. First married to Russian poet Sergey Yesenin. She married after divorce Vsevolod Meyerhold in 1922. Zinaida Reich died after being brutally stabbed in her apartment by NKVD agents.