Academic Small Drama Theatre of Europe

The Maly Drama Theatre was established in 1944 by the decision of the Regional Executive Committee, when most theaters were in evacuation. Initially, the theater did not have a specific program or even its own home. The small troupe was mobile and showed its performances only in the cities and towns of the Leningrad region, and only in 1956 the theater was issued its own building.

The theater trains young directors and actors from different countries, such as: USA, Germany, Great Britain, Spain, France, Italy, Switzerland, Hungary. Today, the troupe employs actors, many of whom are students of Lev Dodin.

The theater participated in the most prestigious international festivals (including in Avignon), in 1994 opened the Russian Seasons resumed in Paris, toured in more than 60 cities of the world.

Theatre awarded:

State Prize of the USSR ("House" and "Brothers and Sisters" based on the novels of F. Abramov, 1986)

Laurence Olivier Award (Stars in the Morning Sky, 1988)

Regional English Theatre Award (1992)

State Prize of the Russian Federation (Gaudeamus, 1993)

UBU Italian Theatre Award (1993)

Prizes of the International Theatre Festival BITEF in Yugoslavia ("Claustrophobia", Grand Prix, Audience Award, "For Best Director" - L. Dodin, 1995), "Golden Mask" (1998-2000, 2002, 2003, 2004) and others.

In 1998 he was granted the status of the Theatre of Europe.