The research work deals with the practices and specific features of Kazakh theater, especially with the specifics of the director's decisions on performances based on European and Russian classical drama. The authors determine that the experienced directors from Russia were invited in order to influence the professional development of Kazakh novice actors. Furthermore, based on the views of theater critics, the study reveals the positive and negative aspects in the development of Kazakh theater. The authors have focused on different versions of performances of Shakespeare in Kazakh theatre, particularly "Othello". The practical value is that the research findings can be a basis of future investigations on the Kazakh theater development and the influence of Russian culture on this process.