Kaluga Regional Drama Theatre

Kaluga Regional Drama Theatre
Калужский областной драматический театр
Kaluga Drama
Address Theatre square, 1
Kaluga
Russia
Coordinates 54°30′57″N 36°15′31″E / 54.515748°N 36.258637°E / 54.515748; 36.258637
Owner State theatre
Type Drama theatre
Capacity 697 (main stage)
60 (small stage)
45 (stage under the roof)[1]
Construction
Opened 1777 [1]
Rebuilt 1958 [2]
Years active 1777–present
Website
Official webcite

Kaluga Regional Drama Theatre (Калужский областной драматический театр), – theatre in Kaluga. It's 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 the 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 the middle of the 19th century under theatre the City arena on which stage 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, appeared has been equipped.

From 1879 to the 1880th years 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 and doesn't heat" ("Светит, да не греет"), written in a co-authorship with Alexander Ostrovsky, and the melodrama "Honeymoon" ("Медовый месяц") in which it is engaged and as the actor.[6]

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

"With direct participation and efforts" 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". 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 – on 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 the front crew which addressed the military units standing near Kaluga, Yukhnov, Yelnya has been created. Actors of theatre: L. A. Maretsky, I. S. Blazhnova, I. M. Kalinin participated in military operations. P. G. Vaneeva and S. N. 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: V. I. Nikitina, P. G. Vaneeva, S. N. Sladky, F. M. Maysky, L. P. Volskaya, T. B. Valasiadi, A. V. Dodonkin, A. I. Tyurin, A.S. Blazhnova, V. I. Romanovsky, T. I. 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 Muscovites" ("Товарищи москвичи"), "The truth well, and 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 worked: D. S. Lyubarsky, R. V. Sokolov, A. B. Pletnyov.[2]

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

Notes

  1. 1 2 Kaluga regional drama theatre. Data card 2016.
  2. 1 2 3 Kaluga regional drama theatre. Official webcite 2016.
  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 2016.

References

External links

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