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History of the Bolshoi Drama Theater

Big Theatre of Drama opened on February 15, 1919 with the tragedy of F. Schiller “Don Carlos”, beginning its performances in the Opera Studio of the Conservatory.

In 1964 it was awarded the title of Academic, in 1970 the Small Stage was opened, since 1992 it has been named after G.A. Tovstonogov.

In the fall of 1918, Commissioner for Theater Affairs M.F. Andreeva signed a decree on the creation of a Special Drama Troupe in Petrograd - this was the original name of the theater, famous today all over the world under the abbreviation BDT. Its formation was entrusted to the famous actor N.F. Monakhov, and the origins were two theater groups: the Tragedy Theater organized in 1918 under the direction of

Yu.M. Yurieva and Theater artistic drama, which was headed by A.N. Lavrentiev.

A.A. was appointed to the post of Chairman of the Directory of the Bolshoi Drama Theater. The block that essentially became the first artistic director BDT. The main ideological inspirer of the new theater was M. Gorky. He wrote at the time: “The audience needs to be shown the man he himself - and all of us - have long dreamed of, a heroic man, chivalrously selfless, passionately in love with his idea... a man of honest deeds, of great feat...” Nominated Maxim Gorky's slogan " To the heroic people- heroic theater! was embodied in the repertoire of the BDT.

The heroes of W. Shakespeare, F. Schiller, V. Hugo appeared on the stage of the BDT. They affirmed the ideas of nobility, contrasting honor and dignity with the chaos and cruelty of the surrounding world. In the first years of the BDT's life, artists played a significant role in determining its artistic appearance. Each of them: and those who left the World of Art association A.N. Benoit and M.V. Dobuzhinsky, and monumental architect V.A. The Shchukos did it in their own way. But it was they who formed the solemn, truly magnificent style of the early BDT.

The advent of a new era coincided with difficult and sometimes tragic changes within the theater itself. In 1921, M.F. left Russia for several years. Andreev and M. Gorky, in the same year A.A. passed away. Blok, returned to Academic theater dramas Yu.M. Yuryev, A.N. left. Benois, left the BDT and became the main director A.N. Lavrentiev. New directors came to the theater: N.V. Petrov, K.P. Khokhlov, P.K. Weisbrem, K.K. Tverskoy; they brought new artists with them - Yu.P. Annenkova, M.Z. Levina, N.P. Akimova, V.M. Khodasevich, V.V. Dmitrieva. Having accepted from A.A. Blok’s symbolic relay race; in 1923, the literary part was headed by A.I. Piotrovsky.

In new searches for theater big role played by the directing activity of the student V.E. Meyerhold K.K. Tverskoy (1929-1934). In the mid-twenties, the BDT's repertoire was determined primarily by plays by modern playwrights such as B.A. Lavrenev, A. Fayko, Yu.K. Olesha, N.N. Nikitin, N.A. Zarkhi, V.M. Kirshon, N.F. Pogodin. The troupe is also being renewed,

A.I. come to BDT Larikov, V.P. Polizeimako, N.P. Korn, L.A. Krovitsky; EAT. Granovskaya, O.G. Casico, V.T. Kibardina, E.V. Alexandrovskaya, A.B. Nikritina.

Since the founding of the theater, directors have worked at the BDT: 1919-1921 and 1923-1929 - A.N. Lavrentiev; 1921-1922 - N.V. Petrov; 1929-1934 - K.K. Tverskoy; 1934-1936 - V.F. Fedorov; 1936-1937 - A.D. Wild; 1938-1940 - B.A. Babochkin; 1940-1946 -
L.S. Mine; 1946-1949 - N.S. Rashevskaya; 1950-1952 - I.S. Efremov; 1922-1923 and 1954-1955 - K.L. Khokhlov.

Thirty paces long. Twenty deep. Up - to the height of the curtain. The stage space is not that big. This space could accommodate modern apartment- it won’t turn out to be so unnaturally spacious. You can place a garden here. Perhaps a corner of the garden, no more. Here you can create a world. world of high human passions, opposing baseness, the world of deeds and the world of doubts, the world of discoveries and the high order of feelings leading the audience.

From the book “Mirror of the Stage”

At the beginning of 1956, the Bolshoi Drama Theater was preparing to celebrate its thirty-seventh birthday.

On the very eve of the holiday, the troupe was introduced to the new, eleventh, chief director.

This is how an era began in the BDT, whose name is Georgy Aleksandrovich Tovstonogov.

G.A. Tovstonogov created a theater that for decades has invariably remained the leader of the domestic theatrical process. The performances he created: “The Fox and the Grapes” by G. Figueiredo, “The Idiot” by F.M. Dostoevsky, “Five Evenings” by A. Volodin, “Barbarians” by M. Gorky, “Woe from Wit” by A.S. Griboyedov, “Physticians” by M. Gorky, “The Inspector General” by N.V. Gogol, “Three Sisters” by A.P. Chekhov, “Last Summer in Chulimsk” by A. Vampilov, “Energetic People” by V. Shukshin, “Three Bags of Weedy Wheat” by V. Tendryakov, “The History of a Horse” by L.N. Tolstoy, “Simplicity is enough for every wise man” by A. Ostrovsky, “At the Depth” by M. Gorky... became events

V theatrical life not only Leningrad, but the whole country, striking with the novelty of its interpretation and the originality of the director’s vision.

Bit by bit, personality to personality, G.A. Tovstonogov assembled an ensemble of unique acting individuals who made up the best drama troupe in the country. The roles played on the stage of the Bolshoi Drama Theater brought fame to I.M. Smoktunovsky, O.I. Borisov, revealed the bright talents of T.V. Doronina, E.A. Lebedeva, S.Yu. Yursky, E.Z. Kopelyan, P.B. Luspekayeva, P.P. Pankova, E.A. Popova,

IN AND. Strzhelchika, Z.M. Charcot, V.P. Kovel, V.A. Medvedeva,L.V. Nevedomsky,M.V. Danilova, Yu.A. Demicha, I.Z. Zabludovsky, N.N. Trofimov, K.Yu. Lavrova, A.Yu. Tolubeeva, L.I. Painted.

A.B. is still playing in the BDT. Freindlikh, O.V. Basilashvili, V.M. Ivchenko, N.N. Usatova, E.K. Popova, G.P. Bogachev, G.A. Calm.

On May 23, 1989, returning from the theater, Georgy Aleksandrovich Tovstonogov died suddenly while driving his car.

In the days when the theater had not yet recovered from the shock, by secret vote of the team, the artistic director of the BDT was unanimously elected National artist USSR, laureate State awards K.Yu. Lavrov.

On April 27, 2007, the theater said goodbye to K.Yu. Lavrov. In June, by a unanimous decision of the troupe, the artistic director of the Bolshoi Drama Theater named after G.A. Tovstonogov, People's Artist of Russia and Georgia T.N. Chkheidze, who served in this post until March 2013.

The famous building of the Bolshoi Drama Theater, which is located on the Fontanka, was erected in 1877. Its customer was Count Anton Apraksin. It was originally conceived as a theater venue, and was supposed to become an auxiliary stage at Alexandrinka. For a long time the building was rented by the Directorate Imperial theaters. At the end of the 19th century, it came under the jurisdiction of the Literary and Artistic Society, founded by playwright Alexei Suvorin. In 1917 the building was confiscated Soviet authority, in 1920 the Bolshoi Drama Theater was founded here.

Architect Ludwig Fontana, who built the building commissioned by Count Apraksin, chose an eclectic style. Appearance combines it character traits Baroque and Renaissance. Just 10 years after its construction, the building underwent a number of small changes, and at the beginning of the 20th century, a large-scale reconstruction was carried out, during which the stage space was greatly increased. The concept of lighting the building's interiors has completely changed. IN Soviet years part of the spectator foyer was converted into a small stage.

At the beginning of the 21st century, the issue of major renovation of theater premises became acute. The last reconstruction of the famous theater was completed in 2014.

History of the troupe

The founders of the Petrograd Bolshoi Drama Theater can be considered Maxim Gorky and one of the oldest Moscow Art Theater actresses, Maria Andreeva, who held the position of Commissioner for Entertainment Institutions of the Soviet North. In 1918, she officially signed the decision to open the BDT. To the troupe of the new theater group entered best actors Soviet era. Myself Alexander Benois became the main artist of the theater.

Already in 1919, the theater played its first premiere. It was Schiller's play Don Carlos. The theater received a building on Fontanka only in 1920, and before that the performances took place in big hall Conservatories.

“The theater of great tears and great laughter” - this is how Alexander Blok defined the repertoire policy of the BDT. At the beginning of its journey, the theater, accepting the works of the best world and Russian playwrights for production, brought revolutionary ideas to the public that were relevant to the time. The main ideologist of the BDT during the first years was Maxim Gorky. Since 1932, the theater officially began to bear his name.

In the early 30s, Konstantin Tverskoy, a student of Vsevolod Meyerhold, became the main director of the theater. Under him, the repertoire was supplemented with productions modern dramaturgy. Plays by such authors as Yuri Olesha made the theater closer to modernity.

In 1936, Tverskoy was arrested and later executed. After this, the time came for a constant change of artistic management of the theater. Many of its creative leaders were repressed and were replaced by others. This could not but affect the quality of the productions and the condition of the troupe. BDT began to lose its popularity and status as the leading theater in the city. During the Great Patriotic War The troupe continued its activities during the evacuation, and after breaking the blockade, it returned to Leningrad, where it began providing leisure facilities for hospitals.

The creative stagnation of the theater lasted until Georgy Tovstonogov took the post of artistic director in 1956. He completely reorganized the BDT, updated the troupe and attracted a new audience to the site. During the thirty-three years of his leadership, the theater troupe was replenished with such stars as Zinaida Sharko, Tatyana Doronina, Natalya Tenyakova, Alisa Freundlich. Innokenty Smoktunovsky, Pavel Luspekayev, Sergey Yursky, Oleg Basilashvili shone on the BDT stage.

After the death of the great master, the star troupe changed its main directors several times, among whom were Kirill Lavrov, Grigory Dityatkovsky, Temur Chkheidze.

In 2013, the BDT was headed by one of the most bright directors modern Russian theater- Andrey Moguchiy. His first performance “Alice” based on the works of Lewis Carroll, with Alice Freundlich in leading role, immediately won the most prestigious theater awards in Moscow and St. Petersburg.

Ended in 2014 large-scale reconstruction BDT buildings - thus the theater was updated not only artistically, but also architecturally. While preserving its historical appearance, it significantly modernized its technical base.

Currently, the theater has three operating stages - the large and small stages in the main building on Fontanka, as well as the Kamennoostrovsky Theater, known as the “second stage of the BDT”.

During the last three-year reconstruction of the BDT, unique bas-reliefs, drawings and stucco moldings, the existence of which was previously unknown, were discovered inside the building under several layers of plaster and paint.

Having carried out a major renovation of the building, the builders preserved intact such memorable objects as the office of Georgy Tovstonogov, as well as the interiors in the dressing rooms, where the greats left their autographs on the walls and ceiling theater people our time.

One of the most famous Russian drama theaters in 2015 was awarded the National Theater Award " Golden mask" in the nomination "Puppet Theatre", since one of latest prime ministers BDT was classified by experts not as a dramatic genre, but as a puppet genre. The play “When I become little again” based on the works of Janusz Korczak was staged on the stage of the Bolshoi Drama Theater by the outstanding Russian puppeteer director Evgeniy Ibragimov.

Which was one of the first founded after October revolution. IN different years Famous directors and actors served and serve there. BDT is considered one of the most beautiful theaters peace.

History of the birth of the theater

Bolshoi Drama Theater named after. Tovstonogov was opened on February 15, 1919. Due to the lack of its own building, the troupe gave performances at the Conservatory. The room was not heated, it was very cold, but every evening the halls were full.

The idea to organize a theater belongs to M. Gorky. The Commissioner of Theaters and Entertainment supported him. Also among the founders is the artist A. Benois.

The Arts Council, which was headed by M. Gorky, decided to invite A. Lavrentyev and N. Arbatov to the positions of directors. Actor N. Monakhov was appointed head of the troupe and was in charge of selecting artists. Music directors theater became A. Gauk and Y. Shaporin. The troupe was assembled from outstanding artists who were leading actors in other theaters, and among them was Yu. Yuryev, a small movie star.

The BDT received its own building in 1920 and has not changed its location to this day.

To Tovstonogov

Since the spring of 1919, the chairman of the theater's artistic council was A. Blok. Bolshoi Drama Theater named after. In the first years of its existence, Tovstonogov demonstrated performances that corresponded to the plans of its creators, who wanted to see a revolutionary program in it - the repertoire was heroic and social nature. On stage there were productions based on the works of F. Schiller, V. Hugo, W. Shakespeare, since Soviet drama had not yet received its development. In many ways, the face of the theater was determined by its artists. Among them was the famous As the actress N. Lejeune, who played in the theater at that time, stated, no props were used on stage, the things were real: the furniture was borrowed from rich houses. Even the costumes were authentic. In 1925, the play “The Conspiracy of the Empress” was staged. The role of Vyrubova was played by N. Lejeune and in the play she wore a dress that actually belonged to her heroine, who existed in reality. Great importance was given to music, B. Asafiev, Yu. Shaporin, I. Vyshnegradsky collaborated with the theater.

From 1921 to 1923, events took place in the theater big changes. Those who stood at its origins: M. Gorky and M. Andreeva - left Russia. A. Blok died. Some actors returned to the theaters where they served before the invitation to the BDT. The chief director A. Lavrentiev left his post in 1921, but returned two years later and held this position until 1929. The artist A. Benois left the theater. In their places came other people who brought something new and expanded the repertoire with plays by domestic and foreign playwrights of that era.

From 1929 to 1935, the main director was K. Tverskoy, a student of V. Meyerhold. Since then, the number of new productions of classic works has declined. And during the entire period of K. Tverskoy’s leadership, two new classical plays were staged. Preference was given to works modern authors: Y. Oleshi, N. Pogodina, A. Faiko, L. Slavina.

In 1932, the theater was named after one of its founders and began to be called “named after Gorky.” Then some of the writer’s works were included in the repertoire.

Theater in 1935-1955

There was a time when the Bolshoi Drama Theater. Tovstonogov was experiencing a creative crisis. This period lasted 20 years - from 1935 to 1955. This time can be called a crisis of directing, since talented directors appeared and announced themselves with interesting productions, but did not stay for long and left the theater (not always according to goodwill). K. Tverskoy was expelled from the city in 1935, and was soon shot. A. Dikiy served in the theater for only a year, then he was arrested. All the directors who came after him were delayed for an average of 1-2 years. Due to frequent changes of directors, the atmosphere in the team deteriorated, the quality of productions decreased, the Bolshoi Drama Theater lost popularity, there were sometimes fewer spectators than actors on stage, the financial situation worsened, and there was a threat of closure.

During the era of Tovstonogov

In 1956, G. Tovstonogov was invited to the position of chief director of the BDT, who was given great powers. He began his tenure by firing many actors. The new director tried to attract the viewer, for this reason comedies appeared in the repertoire. Already at the beginning of 1957, the Bolshoi Drama Theater. Tovstonogov regained his former popularity, and performances began to take place in front of full houses. After 6 years of work, G. Tovstonogov gained fame as a talented and successful director. The theater went on tour in many countries around the world and gained popularity abroad. Georgy Alexandrovich held the position of chief director of the BDT for three decades.

Late 20th - early 21st century

After G. Tovstonogov died, he was replaced by K. Lavrov, who was not a director, and therefore the theater was in constant search directors. Lavrov assembled a staff that worked on a permanent basis. However, he often invited directors from other theaters to collaborate. In 1992, the BDT received its modern name. In 2004, he found a chief director, T. Chkheidze, who held this position until 2013.

Theater today

In March 2013, A. Moguchiy became the artistic director of the BDT. From 2011 to 2014, the Fontanka Theater building was closed for restoration. On September 26, the renovated Bolshoi Drama Theater was inaugurated. Tovstonogov. The photo below is an image auditorium BDT.

The theater has three venues: in the building on the Fontanka Embankment there are two halls, and one in the Kamennoostrovsky Theater.

Famous theater actors and their repertoire

Over the years, such actors as T. Doronina, P. Luspekayev, O. Basilashvili, I. Smoktunovsky, A. Freundlich, N. Usatova and others shone on the stage of the Bolshoi Drama Theater, glorifying and continuing to glorify the Bolshoi Drama Theater. Tovstonogov.

His repertoire is very wide and includes classical and modern plays.

How to get there

In the very center of the city, on the Fontanka Embankment, at number 65, the Bolshoi Drama Theater is located. Tovstonogov. The address of its second stage is Krestovsky Ostrov metro station, Old Theater Square, building 13.

BDT Tovstonogov opened in February 1919. His repertoire today mainly includes classical works. Most of them are productions with a unique interpretation.

Story

The theater's first performance was F. Schiller's tragedy "Don Carlos".

Initially, the BDT was located in the building of the conservatory. In 1920 it received a new building, where it is still located. A photo of the BDT Tovstonogov is presented in this article.

The first name of the theater is “Special Drama Troupe”. Was involved in the formation of the troupe famous actor N.F. Monakhov. The first artistic director of the BDT was A.A. Block. The ideological inspirer was M. Gorky. The repertoire of that time included works by V. Hugo, F. Schiller, W. Shakespeare, etc.

The twenties of the 20th century were difficult for the theater. The era was changing. M. Gorky left the country. A.A. died Block. The main director A.N. left the theater. Lavrentyev and the artist New people came to take their place, but did not stay long.

A great contribution to the development of the BDT was made by director K.K., who came in 1929. Tverskoy - student of V.E. Meyerhold. He served in the theater until 1934. Thanks to him, the BDT’s repertoire included performances based on plays by contemporary playwrights at that time.

Georgy Aleksandrovich Tovstonogov came to the theater in 1956. He was already the eleventh leader in a row. With his arrival it began new era. It was he who created the theater, which has been among the leaders for many decades. Georgy Alexandrovich assembled a unique troupe, which became the best in the country. It included such actors as T.V. Doronina, O.V. Basilashvili, S.Yu. Yursky, L.I. Malevannaya, A.B. Freundlikh, I.M. Smoktunovsky, V.I. Strzhelchik, L.I. Makarova, O.I. Borisov, E.Z. Kopelyan, P.B. Luspekayev, N.N. Usatova and others. Many of these artists still serve in the Tovstonogov Bolshoi Drama Theater.

In 1964 the theater received the title of Academic.

In 1989, Georgy Alexandrovich Tovstonogov died. This tragic event came as a shock. Almost immediately after the death of the genius, his place was taken by People's Artist of the USSR Kirill Lavrov. He was chosen by team vote. Kirill Yuryevich put all his will, soul, authority and energy into preserving what was laid down by G.A. Tovstonogov. He invited talented directors to collaborate. The first production created after the death of Georgy Alexandrovich was the play “Cunning and Love” by F. Schiller.

In 1992, the BDT was named after G.A. Tovstonogov.

In 2007, T.N. was chosen for the position of artistic director. Chkheidze.

Since 2013, the artistic director has been A.A. Mighty.

Performances

BDT Tovstonogov offers its viewers the following repertoire:

• “Man” (notes of a psychologist who survived a concentration camp);
• "Tolstoy's War and Peace";
• "Gronholm Method";
• "Uncle's Dream";
• "Baptized with Crosses";
• “Theatre from the Inside” (interactive production);
• "Measure for measure";
• "Mary Stuart";
• “The Soldier and the Devil” (musical drama);
• "What to do?";
• “Three texts about the war”;
• "The Cripple of Inishmaan";
• "Quartet";
• “From the life of puppets”;
• "Languor";
• "When I'm Little Again"
• "One Year's Summer";
• "The Innkeeper";
• "Player";
• "Women's Time";
• “Zholdak dreams: thieves of feelings”;
• "The House of Bernarda Alba";
• "Vassa Zheleznova";
• "Lady with a dog";
• "Alice";
• "The Visible Side of Life";
• "Erendira";
• "Drunk."

Premieres of the 2015-2016 season.

The Tovstonogov Drama Theater has prepared several premieres this season. These are Tolstoy's War and Peace, Baptized with Crosses and The Gambler. All three productions are unique and original in their interpretation.

"Tolstoy's War and Peace" is not an ordinary stage version of the work. The play is a guide to the novel. This is a kind of excursion through some of the chapters. The performance gives the audience the opportunity to look at the novel in a new way and get away from the perception that has developed in school years. The director and actors will try to break stereotypes. The role of the guide is played by Alisa Freindlich.

The play “The Player” is a free interpretation of the novel by F.M. Dostoevsky. This is the director's fantasy. Several roles are played in this performance. The production is full of choreographic and musical numbers. Svetlana Kryuchkova’s artistic temperament is very close in spirit to the novel, which is why it was decided to entrust her with several roles at once.

“Baptized with crosses” - this is how the prisoners of cross prisons called themselves. They were absolutely different people. Thieves in law, political prisoners and their children who were in children's prisons or in reception centers. The performance is based on the book by Eduard Kochergin, an artist at the Bolshoi Drama Theater. This autobiographical work. Eduard Stepanovich talks about his childhood. He was the son of “enemies of the people” and spent several years in the NKVD children’s detention center.

Troupe

The actors of the Bolshoi Drama Theater are famous for their eccentricity, originality, talent and professionalism. Tovstonogov. List of artists:

• N. Usatova;
• G. Bogachev;
• D. Vorobyov;
• A. Freundlich;
• E. Yarema;
• O. Basilashvili;
• G. Shtil;
• S. Kryuchkova;
• N. Alexandrova;
• T. Bedova;
• V. Reutov;
• I. Botvin;
• M. Ignatova;
• Z. Sharko;
• M. Sandler;
• A. Petrovskaya;
• E. Shvareva;
• V. Degtyar;
• M. Adashevskaya;
• R. Barabanov;
• M. Starykh;
• I. Patrakova;
• S. Stukalov;
• A. Schwartz;
• L. Sapozhnikova;
• S. Mendelson;
• K. Razumovskaya;
• I. Vengalite and many others.

Nina Usatova

Many actors of the Bolshoi Drama Theater named after. Tovstonogov is known to a wide audience for his numerous roles in films. One of these actresses is the magnificent Nina Nikolaevna Usatova. She graduated from the legendary Shchukin Theater School. She came to work at the BDT in 1989. Nina Nikolaevna is a laureate of various theater awards, she was awarded medals, including “For Services to the Fatherland,” and was awarded the title People's Artist Russia.

N. Usatova starred in the following films and TV series:

• "Feat of Odessa";
• "Window to Paris";
• "Fire Shooter";
• "Muslim";
• Next;
• "The Ballad of the Bomber";
• “The cold summer of '53...”;
• “See Paris and Die”;
• “The Case of Dead Souls”;
• “Quadrille (dance with exchange of partners)”;
• Next 2;
• "Poor Nastya";
• "Master and Margarita";
• Next 3;
• “Features of national policy”;
• "Mothers and Daughters";
• "The Widow's Ship"
• "Legend No. 17";
• “Furtseva. The Legend of Catherine".

And many other films were released with her participation.

Artistic director

Tovstonogov took the position of artistic director of the BDT in 2013. He was born in Leningrad on November 23, 1961. In 1984, he graduated from the Faculty of Radio Engineering of the Leningrad Institute of Aviation Instrumentation. Another 5 years later there was a department of acting and directing at the Institute of Culture. In 1990, Andrei founded his own independent troupe, called Formal Theatre, which won Grand Prix at festivals in Edinburgh and Belgrade. From 2003 to 2014 A. Moguchiy was a production director

Where is it and how to get there

In the center of the historical part of St. Petersburg is the main building of the Tovstonogov Drama Theater. Its address is the embankment of the Fontanka River, No. 65. The most convenient way to get to the theater is by metro. The nearest stations to it are Sadovaya and Spasskaya.

Them. G. A. Tovstonogova will celebrate her centenary anniversary. In his current repertoire classical plays and works of contemporary authors. The theater is one of the most famous and popular in Russia.

About the theater

BDT Tovstonogov has existed since 1919. It was originally called the Special Drama Troupe. The first performances were shown in the hall of the Conservatory. After some time, the theater found its own building. The embankment of the Fontanka River became the location of the legendary BDT. The artistic direction of the new temple of art was entrusted to famous poet A. A. Blok. The ideological inspirer was Maxim Gorky. The repertoire of that time included works by F. Schiller, W. Shakespeare, and V. Hugo. The BDT considered its main task to be the opposition of nobility, dignity and honor to the cruelty and chaos that reigned in the world.

The twenties of the 20th century became difficult for the new theater. First, M. Gorky left for another country, then A. Blok died. The artist A. Benois left the BDT. The main director A. Lavrentiev left the theater. New directors came to the troupe. But no one stayed long. This continued until 1956. The basis of the repertoire at that difficult time was the works of Soviet playwrights.

In 1956, the theater began new life. This happened thanks to the arrival of G. A. Tovstonogov to the position of chief director and artistic director. He served in the BDT for thirty years. Georgy Alexandrovich created performances that became real events. His productions were distinguished by originality, freshness, novelty and own view for works. This man turned the theater, which was among the outsiders, into one of the leaders of the country. Georgy Alexandrovich invited such outstanding actors as T. Doronina, I. Smoktunovsky, V. Strzhelchik, S. Yursky, K. Lavrov, etc. to the troupe. This was the best team in the USSR. In 1964, the theater was awarded the honorary title "Academic". In 1970, another stage of the Bolshoi Drama Theater, the Small Stage, opened.

In May 1989, Georgy Alexandrovich was returning home from a rehearsal for a new play in his car. He had a heart attack. The great director died right behind the wheel. The death of a genius was a great loss for the theater. The troupe could not recover from the shock. Soon the artists chose a new artistic director. He became K. Yu. Lavrov. The actor tried to continue the traditions laid down by Georgy Alexandrovich. In 1992, the theater was named after G. A. Tovstonogov. Kirill Yuryevich Lavrov served as artistic director until 2007. Then he was replaced by T. Chkheidze. Since 2013, the artistic director of the BDT has been A. A. Moguchiy.

Repertoire

BDT Tovstonogov offers its viewers dramas, comedies, classical works and plays by contemporary authors.

In 2017, the following performances can be seen on its stage:

• "Storm".
• "Summer of One Year"
• "Alice".
• "The soldier and the devil."
• "The language of birds."
• "Governor".
• "Human".
• "The visible side of life."
• "The House of Bernarda Alba."
• "Tolstoy's War and Peace."
• "Mary Stuart" and others.

Troupe

The Tovstonogov Drama Theater has long been famous for its artists. The actors here are talented and professional. Many of them have titles and awards. The team consists of promising young people and famous celebrities who have extensive experience and are known to a wide audience for their numerous works in cinema.

Theater troupe:

• Maxim Bravtsov.
• Victor Knyazhev.
• Leonid Nevedomsky.
• Svetlana Kryuchkova.
• Elena Shvareva.
• Oleg Basilashvili.
• Nina Usatova.
• Sergey Stukalov.
• Alisa Freindlich.
• Georgy Shtil.
• Irute Vengalite and many other artists.

Directors

The BDT employs several stage directors.

Directing group:

• Lyudmila Shuvalova.
• Andrey Maksimov.
• Alexander Nikanorov.
• Polina Nevedomskaya.
• Alexander Artyomov.

L. Shuvalova and A. Maksimov have worked at the BDT longer than others.

Andrey Nikolaevich was born in 1955. At the age of 30 he graduated from LGITMiK. He began his career in the city of Kemerovo. Then there were Novosibirsk, Krasnoyarsk, Omsk, Vilnius. Since 1993, A. Maksimov has served in the Tovstonogov Drama Theater. Over the years creative activity he staged more than thirty performances.

L.P. Shuvalova graduated from theater school in Nizhny Novgorod. She came to work at the BDT in 1951. Mine creative path Lyudmila Pavlovna started out as an actress. After 20 years of artistic activity, she became an assistant director. And in 1980 - director. L.P. Shuvalova was awarded the Order of II and I degrees “For Services to the Fatherland” for her great contribution to theatrical art.

G. A. Tovstonogov

G. A. Tovstonogov was born in 1915. Since childhood, Georgy Alexandrovich loved the theater very much. But after graduating from school, at the insistence of his father, he entered the railway institute. After studying there for a short time, the young man realized that he had a different calling and left this university. In 1931, G. A. Tovstonogov began working in the Russian Youth Theater in Tbilisi as an actor. Two years later he entered the directing department at GITIS. In 1946 he moved to Moscow, and in 1949 - to St. Petersburg.

Since 1956, Georgy Alexandrovich has been the director of the BDT. Tovstonogov headed this theater at a time when it was on the verge of closure. The team was terrible. The artistic directors were constantly changing. Attendance is low and financial debt is high. Thanks to Georgy Alexandrovich, the BDT got back on its feet in no time. G. Tovstonogov headed the theater for thirty years - until his death. In addition, this brilliant director led teaching activities, was a professor, wrote two books, worked on television and radio.

Buying tickets

BDT Tovstonogov, like many other theaters, offers two ways to purchase tickets. The first is at the box office, the second is via the Internet. On the official website of the theater in the "Poster" section, you need to select the performance you are interested in and a convenient date. Then you need to decide on the row and location; the diagram of the auditorium, which is presented in this section of the article, will help you with this.

With help bank card or electronic wallet, payment for the order is made. Purchased tickets are sent to the buyer's email. You will need to print them yourself and present them in paper form at the entrance to the hall. If you want to purchase tickets at one of the ticket offices, remember their opening hours: from 10:00 to 21:00 - Main stage, and from 10:00 to 19:00 - Malaya. Break - from 15:00 to 16:00. Students of creative universities can purchase tickets at a discount one hour before the start of the performance and upon presentation of a document confirming their right to the discount.