G. A. Tovstonogov Bolshoi Drama Theatre

It was founded in 1918 as a Special Drama Company with the direct participation of M. Andreeva, M. Gorky, A. Blok. The team was formed by N. Monakhov on the basis of the Theater of Tragedy under the leadership of Yuriev and the Theater of Art Drama under the leadership of A. Lavrentiev. It opened on February 15, 1919 in the premises of the opera studio of the Conservatory with the play Don Carlos by F. Schiller. In September 1920, BDT moved to Fontanka, 65, in the former Suvorinsky (Maly Theatre). The building was built in 1878, restored in 1999. Since 1932-1992 bore the name of M. Gorky, and since 1992 - named after G.A. Tovstonogov, where he works to this day. During the 1920-1950s, several major directors changed. In February 1956, BDT was headed by G.A. Tovstonogov. He created the theater, which for three decades invariably remained one of the favorites of the domestic theatrical process. Tovstonogov gathered an ensemble of unique actors who made up the best drama troupe of the theater. Today, leading directors of domestic and world theater cooperate with Bolshoi Drama. The repertoire of the theater includes works of Russian and world classics, a comedy by a modern Russian author, a modern foreign play. At different times, N.V. Petrov, K.K. Tverskoy, A.D. Wild, B.A. Babochkin worked here. The gold fund of the Soviet theater included performances by G.A. Tovstonogov (chief director in 1956-1989). They revealed the talents of I. Smoktunovsky, O. Borisov, T. Doronina, S. Yursky, E. Kopelyan, P. Luspekaev, V. Strzhelchik, E. Lebedev, V. Kovel, V. Medvedev, M. Danilov, Y. Demich, N. Trofimova.