We all thought he was laying the groundwork for a new career as Prime Minister… but it looks as though Vladimir Putin may have set his sights on a retirement job as the next great theatre director.

After he and his wife had watched 19th Century Russian comedy ‘Woe from Wilt’ at Moscow’s Sovremennik theater, Putin paid a surprise visit backstage, where he gave the cast and director the benefit of his notes. And, as you’d expect from a man who has led Russia for eight year’s, Putin didn’t mince words.

“Why did you show him [the main character] crying at the very beginning? One gets the impression of him as a weak person. He’s a strong man. He withstands everything that’s there. You showed him sniveling.”

Slightly put out, but knowing his place, the play’s Director Rimas Tuminas carefully crafted a reply that would shift the blame from himself onto the lead actor:

“You’re correct and I’m just glad that the actor has heard this.”

But, if nothing else, Putin’s years at the top have given him the super ability to spot a snivelling excuse at 100 paces, and the Director’s excuse received short shrift:

“The actor has nothing to do with this. He’s done what you told him.”

Ouch. By the way, is anyone else thinking of Stalin’s part-time career as the Soviet Union’s “super-movie-producer / director / screenwriter as well as supreme censor“?

Anyway, Putin - ever the media-aware politician - then went on to tell Russian media how the play related to current international politics. Referring to a scene when the lead character criticizes fellow Russians who fall all over themselves to adopt Western customs, he told reporters:

“This is a particular lesson for the new members of the European Union. I’m joking, I’m joking.”

Which will no doubt go down well in Eastern Europe.