Kaluga Regional Drama Theatre

Kaluga Regional Drama Theatre
Kaluga Drama

Theatre building. 2014
Address 248001, Theatrical square, 1
Kaluga
 Russia
Coordinates 54°30′56″N 36°15′31″E / 54.51556°N 36.25861°E / 54.51556; 36.25861Coordinates: 54°30′56″N 36°15′31″E / 54.51556°N 36.25861°E / 54.51556; 36.25861
Public transit → "Drama Theatre"
Owner State theatre
Type Drama
Seating type soft seat
Capacity 697 (main stage)
60 (small stage)
45 (stage under the roof) [1]
Current use ₽ – (rub)
Construction
Opened January 19, 1777 (1777-01-19)
Rebuilt 1958 [2]
Years active 1777–present
Architect Ivan Zholtovsky
Website
Official webcite

Kaluga Regional Drama Theatre (Russian: Калужский областной драматический театр) is a Russian theatre in Kaluga. One of the oldest operating drama theaters of Russia (since 1777).

History

The first Governor-general of Kaluga region Mikhail Krechetnikov was a great admirer of arts. By his decision drama theatre was established in Kaluga on 30 January [O.S. 19 January] 1777.[3]

Four actors and an actress from St. Petersburg were invited to the new theatre. Other actors were recruited from residents of Kaluga. Thus, the first theatrical company in Kaluga has been created.

Writing of the play for the first night has been ordered to the famous Russian playwright and poet Vasily Maykov which leaves under the name of "Prologue on opening of the Kaluga Region".[4][5]

Opening of the theatre and its first season has taken place at a big congestion of the people. Many prominent guests were invited and the high-ranking persons from the whole country of Russia. The famous playwright and the composer of that time N. S. Titov who at a personal request of Mikhail Krechetnikov directed reorganization of the building and a set of actors becomes the art director.

In 1871 the famous Russian actress, subsequently the chairman of the Russian theatrical society, – Maria Savina, in 1872, the singer and the actress of the operetta, the recognized performer of gipsy romance – Vera Zorina, has been equipped.

From 1879 to the 1880th year the drama actor and the impresario, one of the leading figures of Maly Theatre Alexander Rasskazov cooperates with the theatre.[5]

The famous Russian playwright Nikolay Solovyov, whose works were often forbidden by censorship and had no approval of "Theatrical and literary committee", puts here in 1888 the plays: "Shines but doesn't heat" ("Светит, да не греет"), written in a co-authorship with Alexander Ostrovsky, and the melodrama "Honeymoon" ("Медовый месяц").[6]

On donations of residents of Kaluga and the province, in 1875 the theatre building is erected on Sennaya Square which existed up to the end of 1941.

"With direct participation and efforts" of N. D. Tilling-Kruchinin, in 1897, for the first time in Kaluga, in theatre the "Cinematograph Lumiere" has been shown "that has caused a great delight of the audience and local press". [7]

During World War I the theatre endures crisis, the constant troupe was absent, on a scene various enterprises went on tour.

February and October revolutions in 1917 have led to a radical reorganization of all theatre life of Russia and the city. In the summer of 1919 the Council of People's Commissars establishes the decree "About association of theatrical business". By this decree "the young proletarian state" has nationalized theatres and all theatrical property.

The Kaluga theatre turns into "Narkompros" (national education) maintaining.

In the country there was a Civil war, hunger and ruin reigned, and interest of the Kaluga viewer in theatre was so big that tickets were bought up right after opening of cash desks – all places, including also "gallery". Before a premiere near the theatre building quite often it was possible to meet people who exchanged tickets for things, products, or sold them for two-three prices from normal.

From the beginning of the World War II, in July 1941 from actors of theatre has been created the front crew which addressed the military units standing near Kaluga, Yukhnov, Yelnya. Actors of theatre: Lev Maretsky, Irina Blazhnova, Ivan Kalinin participated in military operations. Vaneeva and Sladky were home front workers. For fighting and labor merits they have been awarded the state awards of USSR.

In post-war years wide recognition of the audience was gained by a number of great masters of a scene: Valentina Nikitina, Polina Vaneeva, Sergey Sladky, Feofan Maysky, Lidiya Volskaya, Tamara Valasiadi, Alexander Dodonkin, Alexey Tyurin, Irina Blazhnova, Vladimir Romanovsky, Tamara Antonova.

In 1950 the theatre is headed by the young director Zinovy Korogodsky, subsequently the chief director of the Leningrad Theatre for young spectators.

In Kaluga he puts the first independent performances: "Comrades Moscovites" ("Товарищи москвичи"), "The truth is good, but happiness is better" ("Правда хорошо, а счастье лучше"), "Dance teacher" ("Учитель танцев"), "Traktirshchitsa" ("Трактирщица").[2]

The building of theatre takes a modern form only in 1958, built up anew after numerous destructions, the fires and reorganizations. The chief directors of theatre in different years: David Lyubarsky, Roman Sokolov, Alexander Pletnyov.[2]

In the fall of 2015, Kaluga regional drama theatre has opened the 239th theatrical season.

Notes

  1. ↑ Kaluga regional drama theatre. Review.
  2. 1 2 3 Kaluga regional drama theatre. Official webcite.
  3. ↑ Malinin 1992, p. 28.
  4. ↑ Andreev 2001, p. 176.
  5. 1 2 Malinin 1912.
  6. ↑ Malinin 1992, p. 37.
  7. ↑ Калужский областной драматический театр. eTVnet.com.

References

External links

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