The building of the Alexandrinsky Theater. Alexandrinskaya Square and Theater Street Alexandrinskaya Square and Theater Street

Building Alexandrinsky Theater, created K.I. Rossi, is one of the most characteristic and outstanding architectural monuments Russian classicism. It plays a dominant role in the ensemble of Ostrovsky Square.

As a result of the redevelopment of the Anichkov Palace estate in 1818, a vast city square arose between the Public Library and the Anichkov Palace garden. For more than 10 years, from 1816 to 1827, Rossi developed a number of projects for the reconstruction and development of this square, which included the construction of city ​​theater. The final version of the project was approved on April 5, 1828. Construction of the theater began in the same year. On August 31, 1832, its grand opening took place.

The theater faces the square (Teatralnaya) deep multi-column loggia, the space of which is, as it were, part of the current Ostrovsky Square. At the same time, the side facades are emphasized eight-column porticos), the through galleries of which allow you to go around the building and enter Teatralnaya (now the Street of the Architect of Russia) street, the perspective of which is closed over the entire width by the rear, almost flat, but richly decorated facade) of the theater. The main decorative decoration of the theater building is an expressive sculptural frieze with antique theatrical masks and garlands of laurel branches at the level of Corinthian capitals), statues of muses in niches on the end facades and a magnificent quadriga of Apollo on the attic) of the main facade (sculptors IN AND. Demut-Malinovsky, S.S. Pimenov, A. Triscorni, I. Leppe).

The Alexandrinsky Theater was built according to the most advanced technology for its time multi-tiered box system with an amphitheater) and a spacious stalls) (capacity - over a thousand people. The interiors of the theater have largely retained the original decoration. The five-tier auditorium with 1,700 seats is distinguished by good proportions and excellent acoustics. Its decoration is solemn and elegant. The original blue upholstery was replaced in 1849 by crimson. The gilded carving of the central ("Royal") box and the boxes near the stage was made according to drawings by Rossi, the ornament on the barriers of the tiers is later (2nd half of the 19th century). The decoration of the auditorium was complemented by a wonderful perspective pictorial ceiling (art. A.K. Whigs), later replaced.

K.I. Rossi in collaboration with an engineer M.E. Clark for the first time in the history of construction technology, original systems were created metal structures. The roof rests on 27 iron arched trusses with cast iron parts with a span of 29.8 m. The internal longitudinal walls serve as supports for 18 lower arched trusses that carry the attic floor and suspended ceiling) above the auditorium. The tiers of boxes are supported by cast iron brackets. The ceiling above the stage is a system of triangular trusses with a span of 10.76 m, supported by cast iron consoles and struts. K.I. Rossi, despite the inert official circles, was completely confident in the strength of the metal structure he proposed, and therefore in one of his reports he wrote: “... in the event that... some misfortune occurred from the construction of metal roofs, then as an example for others, let me be hanged this very hour from one of the rafters of the theater."

The building of the Alexandrinsky Theater, created K.I. Russia, is one of the best in terms of beauty of interiors and majesty of appearance.

Elizabeth appoints Russian playwright Alexander Sumarokov as director, and puts Fyodor Volkov, the creator of the first permanent Russian theater, at the head of the troupe. The repertoire of that time included plays by Denis Fonvizin, Yakov Knyazhnin, Vladimir Lukin, Jean Racine, Voltaire, Jean Baptiste Moliere and Pierre Beaumarchais.

The favor that the imperial court showed to the arts was difficult to underestimate, but in fact the affairs of the theater were in a disastrous state: in 1759, two thousand rubles were added for maintenance, and there was still not enough money. In addition, problems of a different sort arose. For example, on the eve of a performance, the director could receive a letter in which he was notified that “there will be no music from the Court, because the musicians played in a masquerade the day before and were tired.” Sumarokov raged, got angry, shook his hands angrily and... ran to look for other musicians.

Imperial Theater

At the time when the Empress decided to establish a theater, there was no room in the city in which the troupe could perform constantly, and therefore performances were shown in one place or another. The problem was solved in 1801, when the architect Vincenzo Brenna undertook the reconstruction of the wooden pavilion (which stood on the site of the current square) in which the Italian entrepreneur Antonio Casassi organized the Italian opera troupe.

Until 1801, the territory where the Alexandrinsky Theater now stands was part of the property of Colonel Anichkov, the builder of the bridge of the same name in St. Petersburg. However, subsequently the authorities bought this plot of land and gave it for the construction of a theater. The premises that the architect Brenna designed, of course, could not satisfy the growing needs of the young theater for a long time, but the unstable political situation, conflicts with Turkey and the Napoleonic War of 1812 pushed back the construction of the building for an unknown period.

When Alexander I returned to St. Petersburg after the war, the main expense of the royal treasury was the construction of the General Staff building. However, the architect Carl Rossi, despite the refusal to build the theater, as if jokingly, creates his own project, simultaneously remodeling the interiors of the Anichkov Palace.
It was decided to implement Rossi’s project in 1825, when Nicholas I ascended the throne. First, a plan was came up for the emperor to rebuild the square in front of the Grand Duke’s palace, which was approved on April 5, 1828, and the next day a Commission was created “to build a stone theater and behind of two buildings."

Alexandrinsky Theater and monument to Catherine II. Photo by n. XX century.

The secret of the blue upholstery of the hall

Despite the fact that the Alexandrinsky Theater was and remains one of the most majestic buildings in the city, a full-fledged design project for the hall was never fully implemented. Rossi wanted the halls to be more elegant, and wood carvings and artistic paintings were replaced with bronze and copper elements. Alas, the precarious financial situation of the state, drained of blood by the war and the lack of funds that went to the needs of the army, did not allow the imagination of the great architect to unfold to the full extent of his talent.

Petersburg. Alexandrinsky Theater.
Fragment of a lithograph by P. Ivanov based on Fig. V. S. Sadovnikova. 1830—1835

When they began upholstering the auditorium, Nicholas I announced that he wanted only red to be used. However, the cunning Rossi, who saw other images and colors in front of him, announced to the emperor that such fabric was not available, and if he waited for its purchase, it would not be possible to open the theater on time. So Rossi, not by battle, but by cunning, won his right to use the color blue.

The theater's auditorium has 1,378 seats. The carvings of the royal box and some boxes near the wall have been preserved to this day. A distinctive feature of the Alexandrinsky Theater is its excellent acoustics: from any place in the auditorium, every whisper uttered by an actor from the stage can be clearly heard, which significantly enhances the impression of the performance.

The grand opening of the theater took place on September 12, 1832. That day, the performance opened with the tragedy “Pozharsky, or the Liberation of Moscow” and “Spanish divertissement, that is, various Spanish dances,” as they wrote in the capital and Moscow press.

Alexandrinsky Theater. Photo from the end of the 19th century.

The theater was named after the wife of Emperor Nicholas I, Alexandra Feodorovna, who participated in the development of the design of boxes and rotundas. Although the name was euphonious, it was rarely possible to hear it from St. Petersburg residents. The word “Alexandrinka” became a kind of sign of involvement in the world of art, which St. Petersburg residents used in conversations, emphasizing their significance with this word and thereby seeming to become closer to the theater.

During the construction of the Alexandrinsky Theater, the architect C. Rossi used cast iron ceilings, which was an innovation for theatrical architecture. The emperor, having learned about this, ordered the work to be suspended and invited the architect to his place. In a conversation with Rossi, he doubted the strength of such cast iron structures. The architect, confident in his project, allegedly swore to the emperor that he would vouch for the success of the construction: if the theater vault suddenly collapsed, let him be publicly hanged from the rafters of the building! This answer satisfied the emperor, and he allowed construction to continue.

Alexandrinsky Theater. Photographer E. Yuar. 1856

Carl Rossi's embarrassment

When the theater was ready, the king and his subjects were very pleased with the result. As a token of gratitude, Rossi was given lifelong use box No. 14 of the second tier. at the Alexandrinsky Theater.

However, on January 14, 1837, the director of the imperial theaters, Alexander Gedeonov, asks to report on his arrival to the Minister of the Court and, somewhat embarrassed, says: “Mr. Rossi asked the directorate if she would like to take this box away from him, and pay him money for it. Due to the unknown whether Mr. Rossi still has the right to make such a transfer of a lodge without special permission... I did not dare to accept his proposals.” Gedeonov also reported that the box is never empty: “various people from the audience” appear at almost all performances and, of course, they are allowed in, since they have a ticket issued by Rossi. Later, through observations, it became known that on the day of the performance a special person is sent to the theater, who, standing in the corridor, sells tickets to the box. This man was repeatedly warned and was even caught once while committing a “deal” and warned that next time he would be taken to the police. Despite this, at the evening performance seven people were allowed into the box, between whom a quarrel and a fight broke out. During the investigation by the police, it turned out that among those sitting in that box were nobles, officials, as well as serfs.

Portrait of Karl Ivanovich Rossi.

Needless to say, the enterprising architect decided to earn a little extra money from the fine arts and put the profit in his pocket. After this incident, Rossi was announced that another such incident would result in the loss of his ticket. The 62-year-old architect agreed with the reasonableness of the argument and no longer sold tickets.

Departure from the Alexandrinsky Theater. Lithograph by R. K. Zhukovsky. 1843

Golden Age of Theater

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, the theater became the main entertainment of the nobility and the subject of special attention from the emperor. The repertoire was dominated by plays of an official or entertaining nature. The action unfolded on stage with elements of external splendor, pomp and magnificent effects. This period of the theater is characterized by an appeal to serious social themes, to the vaudeville genre and the attraction of outstanding Russian actors to the theater: Nikolai Duras, Varvara Asenkova, Andrei Karatygin, Ivan Sosnitsky.

Scene from the play “It shines, but does not warm” Engravings based on drawings by K. Broz. 1880

In the second half of the 19th century, a troupe was formed in the theater associated with the names of Vladimir Davydov, Maria Savina, Pyotr Svobodin, Varvara Strelskaya, Vasily Dalmatov, Polina Strepetova, and then Vera Fedorovna Komissarzhevskaya herself. Then in The theater staged for the first time the plays “Woe from Wit” by Griboedov, “The Inspector General” by Gogol and “The Thunderstorm” by Ostrovsky.

The decline of the old school

The crisis of the old school in the theater was revealed in 1896, when it was decided to stage the play “The Seagull” by Anton Chekhov. At rehearsals, and later at the premiere itself, outdated production principles, a lack of modern direction and flexibility among the artists, who saw in the play just an original comedy and that’s all, became obvious. The performance, despite the talented and reverent performance of the role of young Nina Komissarzhevskaya, failed, and the actress herself soon left Alexandrinka to open her own Drama Theater on Italianskaya Street.

V. F. Komissarzhevskaya - Varya. "Savage" by A. N. Ostrovsky and N. Ya. Solovyov. 1898

A turning point in the life of the theater was the arrival in 1908 of director Vsevolod Meyerhold, who tried to summarize the best traditions of the theater and achieve the unity of all elements of stage action. This is how the performances “Don Juan”, “The Thunderstorm” and “Masquerade” appear on stage. The play "Masquerade", staged in the days preceding the revolution, began to be perceived as a "premonition of the death of the autocracy."

A turning point in the life of the theater was the arrival of director Vsevolod Meyerhold in 1908. Photo: Commons.wikimedia.org / Florstein

State Drama Theater named after A. S. Pushkin

After February 1917, the theater, like many other state institutions, was first subjected to devastating criticism, in which the words “liquidation of the old world of bourgeois art” were the most diplomatic and moderate, and then, in 1920, it was reorganized and became known as the “Petrograd State Academic drama theater." The repertoire in the theater, as one would expect, was “class-correct” - the life of peasants, the red color of the revolution, slogans and leaders became indispensable attributes of the new theater.

In the first years of Soviet power, Maxim Gorky’s plays “The Bourgeois” and “At the Lower Depths” were performed on stage, and performances were staged based on the works of Friedrich Schiller, Alexander Ostrovsky, Oscar Wilde, William Shakespeare, Bernard Shaw, Alexei Tolstoy and Dmitry Merezhkovsky. In 1920, a philosophical play by the future People's Commissar of Education of the RSFSR Anatoly Lunacharsky, Faust and the City, was staged.

From 1922 to 1928, the head of the artistic department of the theater was Yuri Yuryev, who, to the best of his ability, managed to protect the theater from the penetration of philistine repertoire into it. During this period, in the theater troupe, along with the old masters - Ekaterina Korchagina-Alexandrovskaya, Vera Michurina-Samoilova, artists of the new generation worked - Natalya Rashevskaya, Elena Karyakina, Leonid Vivien, Yakov Malyutin and others.

Since 1920, the theater began to be called the “State Drama Theater” (or “Ak-drama” - from “academic”), and in 1937 the theater was named after A. S. Pushkin.

Scenes from the play "Masquerade" by M. Yu. Lermontov. 1926

During the Great Patriotic War, the theater operated in Novosibirsk and during these years the performances “Front”, “Russian People”, “Invasion” appeared on the stage. In the fall of 1944, the theater resumed work in Leningrad.

In the late 40s - early 50s, the development of the theater was hampered by the then popular principles of leveling and idealization of historical figures, however, even in these years, significant performances were staged on stage: “The Winners” by Boris Chirskov and “Life in Bloom” by Alexander Dovzhenko.

The name “Alexandrinsky” was returned to the theater only in 1990. Now the artistic director of the theater has been Valery Fokin for 11 years.

Of course, like any theater of this scale, Alexandrinka is a mysterious place. It was erected on the site of the Hare Marshes and the former Italian theater. Previously it was connected by underground passages to neighboring buildings. The inside is more like a labyrinth - there is a known case when one of the actors, who had previously worked in Alexandrinka for 30 years, could not leave the theater for several hours.

The Alexandrinsky Theater is the oldest national theater in Russia. It was established by a Senate Decree signed by the daughter of Peter the Great, Empress Elizabeth, on August 30, 1756, the day of St. Alexander Nevsky. It is this theater that is the progenitor of all Russian theaters, and the date of its foundation is the birthday of the Russian professional theater. The establishment of the theater served as the beginning of the state policy of the Russian state in the field of theatrical art.
The Russian State Drama Theater has served as an attribute of Russian statehood for two and a half centuries. In the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries it was the main imperial theater, the fate of which was occupied by the Russian emperors.
Since 1832, the Russian State Drama Theater received a magnificent building in the center of Nevsky Prospect in St. Petersburg, designed by the great architect Karl of Russia. This building was named the Alexandrinsky Theater (in honor of the wife of Emperor Nicholas I, Alexandra Fedorovna) and since then the name of the Alexandrinsky Theater has been inextricably linked with the world history of performing arts.
It was here, at the Alexandrinsky Theater, that the premieres of almost all works of Russian dramatic classics took place, from “Woe from Wit” by A. S. Griboyedov to plays by A. N. Ostrovsky and A. P. Chekhov. The Alexandrinsky Theater is a textbook on the history of Russian theatrical art. It was on this stage that famous Russian actors played - from V. Karatygin and A. Martynov to N. Simonov, N. Cherkasov, V. Merkuryev, I. Gorbachev, B. Freundlich. This stage was decorated with the talents of famous Russian actresses from E. Semenova, M. Savina (founder of the Union of Theater Workers of Russia), V. Komissarzhevskaya to E. Korchagina-Alexandrovskaya, E. Time, N. Urgant. Today, such artists as S. Parshin, V. Smirnov, N. Burov, N. Marton, I. Volkov, A. Devotchenko, S. Smirnova, I. Voznesenskaya, M. Kuznetsova, K. Petrova and etc.

Great theater directors Vs. Meyerhold, L. Vivien, G. Kozintsev, G. Tovstonogov, N. Akimov worked in the theater. Today the Alexandrinsky Theater is led by the famous director, People's Artist of Russia, State Prize laureate Valery Fokin. The performances of the Alexandrinians were included in all world theater encyclopedias. Great artists A. Benois, K. Korovin, A. Golovin, N. Altman, outstanding composers A. Glazunov, D. Shostakovich, R. Shchedrin collaborated with the theater.
Academician D.S. Likhachev has repeatedly said and written that the Alexandrinsky Theater “is truly a national treasure of Russia.”

A theater located in the very heart of St. Petersburg, a theater where Griboedov’s “Woe from Wit” and Ostrovsky’s “The Thunderstorm” were first staged, a theater that was called the “director’s Mecca” - directors from Meyerhold to Tovstonogov worked there.

Birth of the first Russian public theater

The decree on the creation of the “Russian Theater for the Performance of Tragedies and Comedies” was signed by Empress Elizaveta Petrovna on August 30, 1756. The first public theater in Russia, he earned the right to be called the father of Russian theater. At its “birth” the troupe was headed by Fyodor Volkov, and Alexander Sumarokov himself became the director of the theater! Even then it became clear that the theater would become famous and would gather on its stage a whole galaxy of stars from the theater world.

The Alexandrinsky Theater was called "the director's Mecca"

From pavilion to palace

In the middle of the 18th century, the Opera House was located in the Anichkov Garden, intended for masquerades and performances. The first theater building on Ostrovsky Square appeared in 1801. On the site of the wooden pavilion, architect Vincenzo Brenna erected a theater in which the Italian troupe of entrepreneur Casassi gave performances. After the infamous fire at the Bolshoi Theater in 1811, the architect de Thomon put forward a proposal to rebuild the building, but this was prevented by the war with Napoleon.

The first director of Alexandrinka was Alexander Sumarokov

Casassi Theater

However, the theater simply needed a large room. The famous architect Carl Rossi worked on the creation of the project for 11 years. The final version was approved only in 1828, the very next day a commission was created “to build a stone theater and two buildings behind it” and immediately began construction. In 1832, a new theater opened on the site of the old “Maly”, an excellent example of the Empire style that reigned in architecture at that time. It was then that the theater received the name Alexandrinsky in honor of the wife of Nicholas I, Alexandra Fedorovna.

The Alexandrinsky Theater is named after the wife of Nicholas I

Alexandrinsky Theater, 1830s

Under the shadow of the muses

A special feature of the building is the metal ceilings, which Rossi personally insisted on. Emperor Nicholas I had doubts about the strength of such structures, but the architect managed to prove he was right. The façade of the theater is decorated with a multi-column loggia, and the side facades are decorated with eight-column porticoes. The niches contain plaster sculptures of the muses Thalia (patron of comedy), Melpomene (patron of tragedy), Clio (patron of history) and Terpsichore (patron of dance). Where the muses are, there is Apollo, and this time we couldn’t do without him. The facade of the building is crowned by a quadriga of the god Apollo (the work of Vasily Demut-Malinovsky), which makes the Alexandrinsky Theater in common with the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow.

Alexandrinsky Theater now

Glitter and luxury

The interior decoration of the theater differs from what Rossi planned - the architect dreamed of more decorations. Nevertheless, the hall already looked magnificent: carvings, gilding, painting, colored upholstery of the chairs (originally blue, but due to oil lamps the hall became smoky, and the upholstery had to be changed to crimson). Seats for spectators were located according to the then modern system of boxes in many tiers with an amphitheater and a spacious stall. In total, the theater could accommodate almost 1,700 people!

According to Russia's plan, Alexandrinka should have even more decorations

Hall of the Alexandrinsky Theater

Textbook of Russian theatrical life

Based on the history of the Alexandrinsky Theater, one could write a textbook on Russian theatrical life. This theater hosted the premieres of almost all famous dramatic works of Russian classics. This includes “Woe from Wit,” and “The Inspector General,” and “The Thunderstorm” (in total, 49 of Ostrovsky’s plays were staged on the Alexandrinsky stage), and even the infamous first production of Chekhov’s “The Seagull.” At the beginning of the 19th century, Griboyedov’s early comedies “The Young Spouses” and “Feigned Infidelity” were successfully performed on stage.

The premieres of almost all Russian classics took place in Alexandrinka

The emphasis during the performances was on the actors' plasticity, their external technique, and the combination of singing and movement. This is what led to the difference between the St. Petersburg and Moscow theater schools. Famous actors performed on the theater stage: Davydov, Varlamov, Dalsky, Strepetova, then Komissarzhevskaya herself! They worked under the guidance of the most talented directors of their time, for example, Vsevolod Meyerhold, Igor Terentyev, Nikolai Akimov, Grigory Kozintsev, Georgy Tovstonogov. Outstanding artists Benois, Korovin, Golovin, Altman and composers Glazunov, Shostakovich, Shchedrin also collaborated with the theater.

What's in a name?

Since 1920, the theater received the name “State Drama Theater”, and then, in 1937, on the centenary of the death of Pushkin, the theater received the name of the sun of Russian poetry. That is why the Alexandrinsky Theater is often called Pushkinsky. The official name returned only in the 1990s. During the Great Patriotic War, the theater worked in Novosibirsk; it returned to Leningrad only in 1944.

Troupe of the Alexandrinsky Theater in Petrozavodsk

In 2006, during the celebration of the 250th anniversary, the grand opening of the reconstructed Alexandrinsky Theater took place. And from 2010 to 2013, work was carried out to create the second stage of the theater, which opened with a laboratory performance based on “Crime and Punishment” by Dostoevsky. Today the theater is directed by director Valery Fokin.

By decree of Empress Elizaveta Petrovna, a Russian theater was founded in St. Petersburg to present tragedies and comedies, from which the troupe of the Alexandrinsky Theater traces its history. Playwright Alexander Petrovich Sumarokov was appointed director of the theater. The troupe was led by actor Fyodor Grigorievich Volkov. The theater became the first state public theater in Russia and began its regular performances in the former Golovkinsky house on Vasilyevsky Island. Subsequently, the building was rebuilt for the Academy of Arts.

1759

By the highest order of the court department, the theater was assigned to the department of the Court Office.

1763

After the death of F.G. Volkov's troupe is headed by the famous Russian actor Ivan Afanasyevich Dmitrevsky.

1766

The theater troupe became part of the established imperial theater directorate.

1783

The Russian drama troupe begins its performances in the building of the newly built Bolshoi Stone Theater in St. Petersburg, later rebuilt for the St. Petersburg Conservatory.

1831

For the first time, the theater troupe performed the comedy by A.S. Griboyedov "Woe from Wit". The role of Chatsky was played by V.A. Karatygin.

31 Aug 1832

The St. Petersburg Russian Drama Troupe begins its performances in a new building in the very center of St. Petersburg, designed by the great architect K.I. Russia. In honor of the wife of Emperor Nicholas I, Alexandra Feodorovna, the building is named the Alexandrinsky Theater. The building of the Alexandrinsky Theater is a masterpiece of world theatrical architecture and is protected by UNESCO.

1836

The premiere of “The Inspector General” by N.V. took place on the stage of the Alexandrinsky Theater. Gogol. The author himself took an active part in the production of the play. In the role of Khlestakov - N.O. Dur.

1836

The building of the Alexandrinsky Theater is assigned to the St. Petersburg Imperial Drama Troupe. At the same time, the troupe continues to perform at other theater venues in the capital, which are under the jurisdiction of the Directorate of Imperial Theaters.

1856

Staged at the Comedy Theater by A.V. Sukhovo-Kobylin “Krechinsky’s Wedding”. In the title role - V.V. Samoilov.

1859

For the first time, a play by A.N. was staged on the stage of the Alexandrinsky Theater. Ostrovsky "The Thunderstorm".

1867

For the first time, the tragedy of A.K. was staged on the theater stage. Tolstoy "The Death of Ivan the Terrible". In the role of Ivan the Terrible - P.V. Vasiliev.

1870

For the first time, the tragedy of A.S. was staged on the theater stage. Pushkin "Boris Godunov". In the role of Boris Godunov - L.L. Leonidov.

1879

For the first time, a comedy by I.S. was staged on the theater stage. Turgenev "A Month in the Country". The role of Verochka was played by M.G. Savina.

1889

For the first time, A.P.’s play was staged on the stage of the Imperial Theater. Chekhov "Ivanov". The title role was played by V.N. Davydov

1895

For the first time, a play by L.N. was staged on the Alexandrinsky stage. Tolstoy "The Power of Darkness". The role of Akulina was played by M.G. Savina

1896

For the first time, A.P.’s comedy was staged on the theater stage. Chekhov's "The Seagull". The role of Nina Zarechnaya was played by V.F. Komissarzhevskaya. The production went down in the history of world theater as “the failure of The Seagull.”

1902

On the stage of the theater, the tragedy of Euripides “Hippolytus” was staged in the translation by D.S. Merezhkovsky. The production was carried out by director Yu.E. Ozarovsky, scenery created by L.S. Bakst.

1910

On the Alexandrinsky stage Sun. E. Meyerhold staged Moliere's comedy Don Juan. Artist - A.Ya. Golovin. Starring Yu.M. Yuryev

1914

For the first time, a play by L.N. was staged on the theater stage. Andreev "Professor Storitsyn". In the title role - R.B. Apollonian.

February 1917

Premiere of the legendary performance Sun. E. Meyerhold and A.Ya. Golovin based on the drama by M.Yu. Lermontov "Masquerade". Music by A.K. Glazunov. The performance becomes the last production of the imperial stage and one of the most harmonious performances in the history of the world stage. Starring Yu.M. Yuryev. The play was in the theater's repertoire until July 1941.

After February 1917

The theater is part of the directorate of State Theaters.

Late October 1917 - March 1918

“Sabotage” of the Bolshevik government, the Theater stops performances and boycotts the new government.

March 1918

"Autonomization" of former imperial theaters. For the first time, the theater began to be called “Alexandrinsky” (with the prefix “former”) in relation to the Petrograd state drama troupe.

1919

The theater receives the status of “academic” and is called the Petrograd State Academic Drama Theater (formerly Alexandrinsky)

1920

The theater is part of the Association of Academic Theaters.

The theater is named the State Academic Drama Theater (Gosdrama).

1922-1928

The director of the theater is the outstanding Russian actor and theater figure Yuri Mikhailovich Yuryev

1928-1933

The theater is directed by the prominent Soviet director Nikolai Vasilyevich Petrov.

1931

“Fear” by A. N. Afinogenov. Staged by N.V. Petrova. In the role of Professor Borodin - I.N. Singers.

1932

The centenary of the building of the Alexandrinsky Theater (then the Leningrad State Drama Theater) is celebrated as a major anniversary of the socio-political and cultural life of the country. At the same time, following the ideological line of the then government, seventy-six years are arbitrarily cut off from the creative history of the first state drama troupe of Russia.

1933-1936

The artistic director of the theater is the outstanding actor, director and teacher Boris Mikhailovich Sushkevich.

1934

"Boris Godunov" A.S. Pushkin. Staged by B.M. Sushkevich. In the role of Boris Godunov - N.K. Simonov.

1936-1938

The artistic director of the theater was the famous Soviet director Sergei Ernestovich Radlov.

1936

“Forest” by A.N. Ostrovsky. Staged by V.P. Kozhich. In the role of Neschastlivtsev - Yu.M. Yuryev.

1937

In the year of the centenary of the death of A.S. Pushkin Leningrad State Drama was named after A.S. Pushkin.

1938-1966

The artistic direction of the theater is carried out by the outstanding actor, director and teacher Leonid Sergeevich Vivien.

1940

“The Noble Nest” by I.S. Turgenev. Staged by A.A. Musil. In the role of Lavretsky - N.K. Simonov.

1941-1944

Theater in evacuation. The troupe works in Novosibirsk, on the stage of the Red Torch Theater. The Leningrad Musical Comedy Theater performs on the stage of the Alexandrinsky Theater during the siege.

1950

“Living Corpse” L.N. Tolstoy. Staged by V.P. Kozhich and A.N. Dawson. In the role of Fedya Protasov - N.K. Simonov.

1955

"Optimistic tragedy" Sun. Vishnevsky. Staged by G.A. Tovstonogov. In the role of Leader - Yu.V. Tolubeev, in the role of Commissioner - O.Ya. Lebzak

1956

"Player" F.M. Dostoevsky. Staged by L.S. Vivien and A.N. Dawson. In the role of Alexey Ivanovich - V.I. Chestnokov.

1958

"Running" M.A. Bulgakov. Staged by L.S. Vivienne. In the role of Khludov - N.K. Cherkasov.

1962

“Little tragedies” by A.S. Pushkin. Staged by L.S. Vivienne. In the role of Baron - N.K. Cherkasov, in the role of Salieri - N.K. Simonov.

1974

“The Adventures of Chichikov, or Dead Souls” by N.V. Gogol. Staged by N.M. Sheiko. In the role of Chichikov - I.O. Gorbachev.

1975-1991

The artistic director of the theater is the outstanding artist and teacher I.O. Gorbachev.

1975

“Elegy” by P. Pavlovsky. Production by I.S. Olschwanger. In the role of Turgenev - B.A. Freundlich.

1978

"Ivanov" A.P. Chekhov. Production by A.O. Sagalchik. In the role of Ivanov - I.O. Gorbachev.

1981

The 225th anniversary of the Russian-Alexandrinsky-Pushkin Theater is widely celebrated.

1991

The name Alexandrinsky is returned to the theater. The official name of the theater: Russian State Academic Drama Theater named after. A.S. Pushkin (Alexandrinsky).

1994

"Monsieur Georges. Russian drama" by M.Yu. Lermontov. Staged by A.A. Praudina

1997

“The Tale of Tsar Peter and his murdered son Alexei” by F. Gorenstein. Staged by A.V. Galibina

1998

“P.S. Kapellmeister Johannes Kreisler, its author and their beloved Julia: Cadenzas on themes from the works of E.-T.-A. Hoffman and V.-A. Mozart." Staged by G.M. Kozlova. The performance was awarded the State Prize of Russia.

2002

The theater enters into a creative agreement with the Center. Sun. Meyerhold on the implementation of the joint creative program “New Life of Tradition”. The artistic director of the program is the outstanding Russian director, head of the center V.V. Fokin

October 5, 2002

V.V. Fokin performs his first production on the theater stage - the original version of the comedy by N.V. Gogol's "The Inspector General", which opens the creative program "New Life of Tradition". In the role of Khlestakov - A.V. Devotchenko. The performance was awarded the State Prize of Russia.

2003

2005 year

“Double” by F.M. Dostoevsky. Staged by V.V. Fokina. In the role of Golyadkin the Elder - V.V. Gvozditsky.

2006

The 250th anniversary of the Alexandrinsky Theater is celebrated as the anniversary of the first state theater of Russia and the beginning of state policy in the field of domestic performing arts. A large-scale reconstruction and restoration of the historical theater building is being carried out. The historical exhibition “Museum of Russian Drama” opens. The International Theater Festival "Alexandrinsky" is being held for the first time.

As part of the creative program “New Life of Tradition,” Greek director Theodoros Terzopoulos is staging Sophocles’ tragedy “Oedipus the King.” This performance opened the First International Theater Festival "Alexandrinsky".

“Living Corpse” L.N. Tolstoy. Staged by V.V. Fokina. In the role of Fedya Protasov - S.I. Parshin.

2007

“The Seagull” by A.P. Chekhov. Staged by K. Lupa (Poland). In the Role of Nina Zarechnaya - Yu.G. Marchenko.

2007

“Ivans” based on “The Tale of How Ivan Ivanovich Quarreled with Ivan Nikiforovich” and other works by N.V. Gogol. Staged by A.A. Mighty. In the role of Ivan Ivanovich - N.S. Marton, in the role of Ivan Nikiforovich - V.F. Smirnov.

2008

“Marriage” N.V. Gogol. Staged by V.V. Fokina. In the role of Podkolesin - I.N. Volkov.

year 2009

"Ksenia. Love Story" by V. Levanov. Staged by V.V. Fokina. In the role of Ksenia - Ya.D. Lakoba.

2010

"Hamlet" by W. Shakespeare. Staged by V.V. Fokina. In the role of Hamlet - D.O. Lysenkov.

2011

“Your Gogol” by N.V. Gogol. Staged by V.V. Fokina. In the role of Gogol - I.N. Volkov.

year 2012

“Liturgy Zero” by F.M. Dostoevsky. Staged by V.V. Fokina. In the role of Alexei Ivanovich - A. Shagin.

May 15, 2013

The new stage of the Alexandrinsky Theater opens.

August 2014

The Alexandrinsky Theater received the status of National Treasure

year 2014

“Masquerade” by M.Yu. Lermontov and Vs. Meyerhold. Staged by V.V. Fokina. In the role of Arbenin - P.M. Semak and D.O. Lysenkov.

August 2015

The first tour of the Alexandrinsky Theater in China. Valery Fokin's play The Inspector General based on the comedy of the same name by N.V. Gogol is shown in Beijing on the stage of the Beijing People's Theater and in Shanghai on the stage of the Shanghai Grand Theatre.

2016

"Today. 2016" K.V. Fokina. Staged by V.V. Fokina. (New scene). Starring P.M. Semak.