Madame Rubinstein: The Famous Play About a Woman Who Changed the World

“Madame Rubinstein.” A tragicomedy about a woman who changed the world. The play by renowned Australian playwright and screenwriter John Misto takes us to 1950s New York, to Helena Rubinstein’s beauty empire. Her name became part of the history of global business in the 20th century: waterproof mascara, modern face creams, and the world’s first beauty salons are just a few of her innovations. Strong-willed and determined, Helena left even influential competitors Elizabeth Arden and Charles Revson behind. Helena Rubinstein changed perceptions of beauty and created many business innovations that are commonplace today. But what was the other side of her enormous success? Risky ventures, fierce competition, the death of her son… Yet, near the end of her life, before our eyes, Helena, like the other characters, realizes that the ability to love matters more than business victories.

“Madame Rubinstein” is a gracefully constructed story. The play was translated and adapted by Olga Varshaver and Tatyana Tulchinskaya. The leading role is played by Vera Babicheva, an actress of theatre and film. The music is by Avi Benjamin (Israel), one of today’s leading theatre composers.

Duration: 1 hour 40 minutes, no intermission. Our auditorium has just 100 seats. The reading-performance will take place in the auditorium of the K. Suns cinema. Address: Elizabetes iela 83/85.

“Madame Rubinstein” is one of the productions by the 12 LUGAS/12 PLAYS Theatre, founded in Latvia in 2024. This international theatre project introduces audiences to the best English-language plays of the 21st century.