Moscow’s drama theatres are a vital part of the Russian capital’s cultural life and a national source of pride. Today, theatregoers can choose among over fifty drama theatres in Moscow. Some of them were established before the Russian Revolution of 1917, lived both moments of glory and Soviet censorship and has kept alive time-honoured traditions. Others are just setting out on their artistic journey but they have already managed to assert themselves and to familiarize the public with new talented directors and actors. At the helm of Moscow’s theatres are well-known theatre directors and actors such as Yuri Solomin, Tatyana Doronina, Mark Zakharov, Roman Viktyuk, Aleksandr Kalyagin, Konstantin Raykin, Galina Volchek, Oleg Menshikov and Gennady Khazanov. The contribution of these outstanding personalities to the cultural development of Russian theatre and moviegoers cannot be overemphasized.
This is, undoubtedly, one of Moscow’s best theatres and the epitome of 20th-century international drama. Today, as many years ago, this theatre established by Konstantin Stanislavski provides theatre directors with ample room for on-stage experiments. Leading Russian directors put on theatrical performances here and their productions always become premier cultural events of the season.
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Leninsky Komsomol Moscow Theatre or Lenkom, as it has been officially known since 1990, is one of the best-known theatres in Russia. Many celebrated Russian film and stage actors worked here: Aleksandr Abdulov, Mikhail Kozakov, Rostislav Plyatt, Oleg Yankovsky, to name but a few. In his productions, the main stage director Mark Zakharov follows in the psychological and music theatre traditions.
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Traditional Drama Theatres
The history of these theatres, which laid the foundation for Russian and Soviet drama, goes back to the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Theatre connoisseurs and almost everyone in Russia are familiar with the names of outstanding Russian directors, playwrights and actors, including Ostrovski, Stanislavski, Nemirovich-Danchenko, Chekhov, Gorki, Gogol, Orlova and Ranevskaya

Moscow Academic Art Theatre.
This theatre originated from the Art Theatre established in 1898 by K. Stanislavski and V. Nemirovich-Danchenko. Director Tatyana Doronina remains faithful to their precept of ‘promoting spiritual life’ and puts on performances based on classical literary works in the best Realist traditions. The theatre’s guiding principles are truth and literature in the service of man for his spiritual perfection.Read more

The Russian Army Theatre.
Theatre has given performances on military and patriotic topics for almost a hundred years. In this remarkable Stalinist building, spectators attend stage performances of historical fiction that is familiar to all Russians nationwide: The Dawns Here Are Quiet by B. Vasilyev, The Front by A. Korneychuk, People of Stalingrad by Y. Chepurin and The Sevastopol March by L. Tostoy. The Theatre also gives stage performances about ordinary people who knew war (Sanya, Vanya, Rimas is with them)Read more

Maly Theatre.
This is one of Russia’s oldest drama theatres, whose history goes back to the 18th century. Visitors come here mainly to enjoy classical performances of some of the best Russian literary works. Of special importance are the plays by A. Ostrovski, A. Chekhov and other Russian playwrights. Performances put on by the Maly Theatre catch the interest of kids and adults alike.Read more
Experimental Theatres
The creative activities of stage directors and actors in some Moscow theatres are like a bright fireworks display. Innovation theatres transform even classical plays exciting shows full of extravaganza, acting talent and enthusiasm. Among Moscow’ best-known experimental theatres are Satyricon, Lenkom and Roman Viktyuk’s Theatre.
Hermitage Theatre
Director Mikhail Levitin surrounded himself with a group of like-minded professionals whose acting performances are illustrative of eccentric perceptions of the world. The Theatre’s shows are usually noisy and hectic, with rapid changes of scenes and impressions.Read more
Satirikon Theatre .
was founded by People’s Artist of the USSR Arkady Raykin whose ideas were later promoted by his son, Konstantin. Satyricon shifted from variety miniatures to dramatic art performances, and today the Theatre’s rich and diverse repertoire makes it extremely popular among theatregoers.Read more
Sphera Theatre.
The theatre was named after its motto: «We reject the principle of a cubic theatre with its wall removed and peeking and adopt the principle of the communication sphere”. There is no conventional stage here and spectators often find themselves involved into what is happening on the stage.Read more
Praktika Theatre.
In this theatre, spectators participate in stage performances created as independent projects, each having its own teams of directors and actors. One of the Theatre’s high-profile productions, Gym Shoes (Kedy), is a story about hipsters and life without a purpose.Read more
Great Russian Stage Directors
Konstantin Stanislavski (1863 – 1938) and his colleague Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko (1858 – 1943) are Russian stage directors who made a major contribution to the theory and practice of international drama. Their names are still well-known worldwide. Many present-day theatres in Moscow, including Anton Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre, Maxim Gorky Moscow Art Theatre and Stanislavski Electrotheatre, date back to the time when these celebrated theatrical personalities collaborated with each other on drama.
Konstantin Stanislavski

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Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko

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Famous Directors’ Theatres
Moscow’s theatrical community has many celebrated theatre directors who determine the direction Russian theatre, cinema, show business and, in general, Russian culture takes. A number of Moscow theatres, established by their current directors from scratch, reflect the bright personality of their creators and are highly popular among theatregoers.

Roman Viktyuk Theatre .
is a private theatre company bringing together like-minded actors from different troupes. The Theatre’s distinguishing features are its diversity, tolerance to all kinds of experiments and boldness in choosing literary sources. Roman Viktyuk Theatre is mostly famous for its audacious and overwhelming production of Maidservants and for the no less legendary Salome based on a play by Oscar Wilde.Read more

At Nikitsky Gates Theatre.
The repertoire of the At Nikitsky Gates Theatre, directed by Mark Rozovsky, comprises tragedies, farces, poetic productions, shows and musical comedies. The Theatre is considered as a truly unique theatrical venue. Its actors are universally recognized as outstanding singers and dancers, always ready to take risks and explore new forms of self-expression while highlighting the psychological and humanist nature of acting.Read more

Pyotr Fomenko Workshop Theatre.
In just about twenty years, this excellent modern theatre has become one of Moscow’s leading drama theatres. The ‘Fomenkis’, as the actors of this theatre are commonly known, manage to both give a deep interpretation of texts and put on light, airy performances. In 2008, the Workshop moved to a new building, designed specifically for this theatre and awarded the Golden Section Prize.Read more
Taganka Theatre.
This theatre lived moments of glory and of breakup and managed to keep alive the traditions established by its founder, the Russian director Yuri Lyubimov. The Taganka Theatre has always boasted accomplished actors, and it is Vladimir Vysotsky, who starred as Hamlet in the Theatre’s production of the eponymous play, who holds the place of honour.Read more
Vakhtangov Theatre.
The Theatre comprises a celebrated troupe and directors, a diverse repertoire and the now iconic productions, powerful traditions and its own school of acting. The Theatre has been popular among Muscovites for almost a century.Read more
Sovremennik Theatre
was founded in 1956, during the Thaw years following Stalin’s death. At that time, the Theatre placed an increased emphasis on the lives of ordinary people, with their sufferings, problems and hopes. This incredibly sharp sense of life is what makes this Theatre popular today, as in the past.Read more
Mossovet Theatre.
The history of this traditional drama theatre goes back to the 1930s. Located in the scenic Aquarium Garden, this Theatre maintains the traditions started by Konstantin Stanislavski and Yevgeny Vakhtangov, great theatre visionaries of the 20th century and teachers of the celebrated Russian director Yuri Zavadsky.Read more

ТAlexey Bakhrushin State Theatre Museum.
Merchant and patron of the arts Alexey Bakhrushin (1865-1929) perpetuated his name by handing over his collection of theatre-related artworks to Russia and the Russian Academy of Sciences. Throughout the 20th century, the collection was constantly updated, and the Museum’s exhibition halls were revamped in 2017. The Museum is located in Moscow’s scenic district, Zamoskvorechye, in an English Neo-Gothic mansion built by K. Gippius and once owned by Alexey Bakhrushin himself.Read more

Alexander Ostrovsky House Museum.
Russian writer Alexander Ostrovsky (1823-1886) is an iconic figure in the Russian theatre and the founder of Russian drama. The museum dedicated to Ostrovsky in Moscow’s Zamoskvorechye will be of interest not only to literature lovers, as the building and its interiors provide visitors with an excellent overview of what this merchant district in Moscow was like back in the 19th century. Many people feel the spirit of that time and a sense of immersion into the old Russian theatre.Read more

Moscow Art Theatre Museum.
The Moscow Art Theatre not only symbolizes 20th-century international theatrical art, but also has a unique museum. The foyer displays a permanent exhibition of photographs and small exhibitions related to the celebrated personalities of the Anton Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre. Visitors to the Museum are also offered guided tours the Theatre’s stages and dressing rooms as well as a series of thematic lectures.Read more
Shalom Moscow Jewish Theatre

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Romen Gypsy Theatre

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