Best Russian Drama Theatres

Tovstonogov Big Drama Theatre (St.-Petersburg) www.bdt.spb.ru 

Tovstonogov Big Drama Theatre is deservedly considered one of the best drama theatres in Russia. Russian and world classics of drama along with innovative works by contemporary playwrights are on the repertoire. 

The brightest pages in the history of the theatre are associated with the name of G.A. Tovstonogov, who was the theatre's leading stage director for over 30 years (from 1956 to 1989). He was the one to stage spectacles which proved glorified masterpieces of theatrical culture. 'Idiot'(1957), 'Philistines' (1966), "Hanuma" (1972), "Story of a Horse" (1975), "Uncle Vania" (1982) and other spectacles are among his best productions. A gifted teacher, he also brought up a whole galaxy of legendary actors, such as O. V. Basilashvili, T. V. Doronina, K. Y. Lavrov, E. A. Lebedev, L. I. Makarova, I. M. Smoktunovski, S. Y. Yursky and many others. Thanks to Tovstonogov's prominent gift the theatre gained international acclaim. 

For almost hundred years the theatre has been located in the most splendid building, which is worth special attention.  Maliy Drama Theatre (St.-Petersburg) www.mdt-dodin.ru 

In 1973 Yefim Padve, Tovstonogov's student, became the director of the Maliy Theatre and invited young stage directors and playwrights to work here. New productions remarkable for their original scenic language attained immediate popularity with the public. Most favorite spectacles were those staged by Lev Dodin: "Highwayman" by Karl Chapek, 'Tattooed Rose" by Tennessee Williams, "Live and Remember" by V. Rasputin, etc. The spectacle "House" after the same name novel by F. Abramov was a riot in Russia. 

Lev Dodin has been the art director of the theatre since 1983. He has staged dozens of spectacles which have brought worldwide fame to the theatre. 

The company of Maliy Drama Theatre tours a lot introducing tendencies of Russian theatrical art to the audiences of Europe, Southern and Northern America and South-Eastern Asia. In 1998 the theatre got the Theatre of Europe status.  Lensovet Theatre (St.-Petersburg) www.lensov-theatre.spb.ru 

Talented stage directors B.M. Sutskevich, N.P. Akimov and I.P. Vladimirov heading the theatre in various years, molded its inimitable style, one after another leaving traces of their personalities and artistic gifts. The classical productions of the theatre include 'Lefthander' by Leskov, 'Shadows' by Saltykov-Shchedrin, 'Case' by Sukhovo-Kobylin and other spectacles. 

The theatre is currently working under the directorship of Vladislav Pazi, who has staged a number of spectacles very popular with the audience. These are "A King, a Queen and a Jack" after Nabokov's novel, "Door to the Next Room" after the play by Eikburn, Edward Gaidai's play "Brother Rabbit in the Wild West", "Lovely Sunday for a Picnic" by Tennessee Williams, etc. 

Extremely versatile repertoire includes both classical plays and bold experimental shows, staged by Pazi and some other directors such as Yuri Butusov ("Waiting for Godot", "Bedbug" and "Caligula"), Oleg Levakov ("The Tram of "Desire") and Gennady Trostyanetsky ("Karenin. Anna. Vronsky.")  Komissarzhevskaya Drama Theatre (St.- Petersburg) www.teatrvfk.ru 

The concert hall "Passage" hosted brilliant performances of Vera Koimissarzhevskaya's Theatre in 1904 - 1906. The best plays by Mikhail Gorkiy, Anton Chekhov and Henrik Ibsen were on the repertoire. Unfortunately, after the leading actress' death the company broke up. 

The theatre was revived in 1942 under the name of the Blockade Theatre with the premiere "Russian People' after Konstantin Simonov's play. The spectacles in the city blockaded by fascists started and finished early in the afternoon, so that the public and the actors could get home before the curfew. When strafing attacks started the actors and viewers ran to bomb shelters and waited for the end of the attack to go on with the spectacles afterwards. The heroic company also toured around war hospitals and at the front-line to encourage Russian soldiers.