Description of the attraction
The Maly Theater, or the State Academic Maly Theater of Russia, is the oldest drama theater in Russia. It is located in the very center of Moscow, in Teatralniy proezd. The theater was founded in 1757, right after the August Decree of Elizabeth Petrovna. This year is officially considered the birth date of professional theater in Russia.
The artistic troupe was created at the Moscow University. The Free Russian Theater was named "University". It was headed by the famous playwright of that time - M. Kheraskov. In 1805, the University Theater became part of the system of imperial theaters formed under Alexander I.
In 1824, a mansion was built for the theater according to the project of the architect Beauvais. The troupe of the Imperial Theater moved into it, and it became known as the Maly Theater. The theater became “small” because there was a “big” theater nearby. At the time, this meant only size comparison. It took a long time for these definitions to be included in the names of theaters.
This period of time was marked by the rise of theatrical art. The theater had an extensive repertoire. An important period in the development of the Maly Theater is associated with the name of the great tragedian P. Mochalov and the name of the former serf actor M. Schepkin. The most famous authors wrote plays for the Maly Theater: A. Sukhovo - Kobylin, I. S. Turgenev, N. I. Ostrovsky. All of Ostrovsky's plays were staged in the theater, and he was secretly named “Ostrovsky's House”.
In the 20th century, the Maly Theater was looking for new ways of its development. A branch of the theater was created - the New Stage, where experimental performances were carried out. The new theater was opened in 1898 in the building of the state Shelaputinsky theater. It hosted not only dramatic performances, but also ballet performances and operas.
Nowadays, the Maly Theater is actively involved in creative work. Each season the theater troupe carries out 4 - 5 new performances. The theater is actively touring - in recent years the troupe has toured in Japan and Israel, France, Germany and Poland, Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, South Korea, Mongolia, Greece, Cyprus and many other countries.
The Maly Theater regularly hosts the Ostrovsky at Ostrovsky House. The International Festival of National Theaters has recently been organized.
Artists and directors of the Maly Theater are worthily continuing the rich traditions of their theater. The basis of the current theatrical repertoire is made by the plays of A. N. Ostrovsky: “There was not a penny, but suddenly altyn”. "Forest". "Labor Bread", "Wolves and Sheep", "Mad Money", "Our People - Let's Numbered!" and others. A significant place in the theater's repertoire is occupied by the plays of A. Chekhov: "Uncle Vanya", "The Cherry Orchard", "The Seagull".
The Maly Theater, the only drama theater, has its own choir, small symphony orchestra and a cast of vocalists.
By the decree of the President of Russia, the Maly Theater has been assigned the status of a national treasure. It is included in the list of especially valuable cultural objects of the country, along with the Tretyakov Gallery, the Hermitage and the Bolshoi Theater.
