The theatrical code in short-stories by E. Popov

The paper relates to the problem of theatrical code in short-stories by the famous postmodernist writer E. Popov. The main purpose of the work is to describe theatrical code - one of the main concepts of semiology - in two aspects: formal and ideological (ontological).The author focuses on the following means and methods of reflection of theatrical code in the narration: lifestyle, situations, models of behavior, heroes’ images, inclusion of «the author's mask» etc. The main functional characteristics of a game discourse of the writer’s stories, organic to post-modernist game with its anti-hierarchical, anti-teleologic, antistructural orientation, are highlighted.