Theatre entertainment in St Petersburg
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A
Hermitage Theatre
This austere neoclassical theatre – once the private theatre of the imperial family – stands on the site of the original Winter Palace of Peter I. At the behest of Catherine the Great, Giacomo Quarenghi designed the theatre to resemble an amphitheatre, with statues of Apollo and the Muses occupying the niches. During the Soviet period, this hall was used more often for lectures and such, but it reopened as a theatre in the 1980s. Appropriate for the setting, performances range from Tchaikovsky to Tchaikovsky. Some of the musical festivals also use this venue for performances.
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B
Komissarzhevskaya Theatre
Now buried in Tikhvin Cemetery, Vera Fedorovna Kommisarzhevskaya was a great St Petersburg actress who gained her reputation as leading lady in Vsevolod Meyerhold performances. In the early years of the 20th century, Kommisarzhevskaya founded an acting troupe that performed in the Passage concert hall, staging plays by all of the famous playwrights of the day, including Mikhail Gorky and Anton Chekhov. Revived in the midst of the Siege, the theatre was renamed in honour of the great actress. These days, headed by artistic director Victor Novikov, it is known for its modern treatment of classic plays.
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C
Priyut Komedianta Theatre
This delightful theatre’s name means ‘the actor’s shelter’ and it does a pretty good job of fulfilling its role, providing refuge for some of the city’s best up-and-coming directors and producers. It was founded by actor Yury Tomashevsky in the late 1980s, when the city turned over a defunct cinema that the group still uses. Recent successes have included Peter Shereshevsky’s adaptation of Fyodor Dostoevsky’s The Eternal Husband and Georgy Vasiliev’s ambitious staging of Viktor Yerofeyev’s Moscow Stations, a sort of Russian Trainspotting.
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D
Yusupov Palace Theatre
Housed inside the outrageously ornate Yusupov Palace, this elaborate yet intimate venue was the home entertainment centre for one of the city’s foremost aristocratic families. While you can visit the theatre when you tour the palace, seeing a performance here is a treat, as you can imagine yourself the personal guest of crazy Prince Felix himself. The shows are a mixed bag – usually a ‘Gala Evening’ that features fragments of various Russian classics.
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E
Mussorgsky-Mikhailovsky Theatre
While not quite as grand as the Mariinsky, this stage still delivers the Russian ballet or operatic experience, complete with multitiered theatre, frescoed ceiling and elaborate concerts. The inspiring pl Iskusstv (Arts Sq) is a lovely setting for this respected venue, which is home to the State Academic Opera & Ballet Company. It’s generally easier and cheaper to get tickets to the performances staged here than those at the Mariinsky.
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F
Baltic House
Known under the Soviets as Lenin Konsomol Theatre, this large venue has long hosted an annual festival of plays from the Baltic countries. Renamed in 1991, Baltic House also stages Russian and European plays, as well as a new and growing repertoire of experimental theatre.
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G
Maly Drama Theatre
The theatre with the best international reputation, built up under the directorship of Lev Dodin whose productions of Dostoevsky’s The Devils and Chekhov’s Play Without a Name have been widely acclaimed.
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H
Feel Yourself Russian Folkshow
Terrible title, but actually a very entertaining show of traditional Russian folk dancing and music by enthusiastic, professional troupes. Plus you get to enjoy the grand interior of the Nikolayevsky Palace.
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I
Lensovet Theatre
One of the more versatile theatre companies in town, staging classical plays as well as bold new experimental works.
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Bolshoy Puppet Theatre
This is the main venue for puppets; there are 16 different shows in the repertoire, including two for adults.
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K
Demmeni Marionette Theatre
The oldest professional puppet theatre in Russia has been in business since 1917.
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L
Bolshoy Drama Theatre
This is another top mainstream theatre, showcasing innovative productions.
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