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\n \n ALEXANDRINSKY THEATRE (2 Ostrovskogo Square), called Alexandrinsky Theatre 1832-1920, it was granted the status of Academic in 1919, and in 1920 named the Petrograd (Leningrad) State Academic Drama Theatre (Akdrama, Gosdrama). In 1937 it was named after Alexander Pushkin, and since 1991 has been the Russian State Academic Drama Theatre also named after Alexander Pushkin (Alexandrinsky Theatre). The theatre's history dates back to 1756 (see Russian Theatre for Tragedy and Comedy Performances) and to the decree of 1759, according to which the Russian Imperial Court Troupe was established (later it performed on the stages of the Imperial Theatres). Principal actors of the 18th - early 19th centuries included F.G. Volkov, I.A. Dmitrevsky, Y.D. Shumsky, T.M. Troepolskaya, P.A. Plavilshchikov, S.N. Sandunov, A.M. Krutitsky, Y.E. Shusherin, A.S. Yakovlev, V.F. Rykalov, E.S. Semenova, Y.G. Bryansky, V.A. Karatygin and I.I. Sosnitsky. Beginning in 1832, the Alexandrinsky Theatre, named in honour of Emperor Nicholas I' wife Alexandra Fedorovna, was the main stage of the Petersburg Imperial Drama Company. Originally, operas were staged along with theatre performances, and quite regularly a German troupe or guest actors would perform. In the 19th century Alexandrinsky Theatre Company boasted such actors as N.O. Dyur, V.N. Asenkova, V.V. Samoylov, A.E. Martynov, V.V. Samoylova, P.V. Vasilyev, V.V. Strelskaya, N.F. Sazonov, M.G. Savina, K.A. Varlamov, V.N. Davydov, P.A. Strepetova, R.B. Apollonsky, V.P. Dalmatov, M.I. Pisarev, V.A. Michurina-Samoilova, M.V. Dalsky, Y.M. Yuryev, V.F. Komissarzhevskaya, and N.N. Khodotov. A great respect for the stage was always a characteristic feature of the Alexandrinsky Theatre's mastery of performance. Its repertoire included both classic and modern Russian and European works of all genres. Many plays that became Russian classics were performed for the first time in the Alexandrinsky Theatre, like N.V. Gogol's The Inspector General (1836), Alexander Pushkin's The Stone Guest (1847) and The Miserly Knight (1852), M.Y. Lermontov's Masquerade (1852), and many others. Comedy and vaudeville, which contributed to the perfection of a versatile acting technique, also occupied an important place in the repertoire. One playwright who appeared most in the theatre's repertoire of the second half of the 19th century is A. N. Ostrovsky. At the turn of 19-20th centuries, a number of reforms were undertaken under the guidance of S.M. Volkonsky and V.A. Telyakovsky, directors of the Imperial Court Theatres, who together developed the New Drama with stronger directors (E.P. Karpov, Y.E. Ozarovsky, A.A. Sanin, A.N. Lavrentyev, N.V. Petrov, A.L. Zagarov, Y.L. Rakitin), renewed design principles (with artists from the World of Art Association), creation of a stylistic unity between productions, and involving performers with new stage specialisations. The theatre's creative achievement of that period came in large part due to its director, V.E. Meyerhold, who staged 20 plays there, and his collaboration with artist/painter A.Y. Golovin, their best-known productions including Don Juan by J.-B. Moliere (1910), The Storm by A.N. Ostrovsky (1916), and Lermontov's Masquerade (1917). During the early 20th century the Alexandrinsky Theatre Company boasted the following actors: P.V. Samoylov, K.N. Yakovlev, E.I. Time, B.A Gorin-Goryainov, L.S. Vivien, E. N. Roshchina-Insarova, Y.O. Malyutin, and E.P. Korchagina-Alexandrovskaya. Under artistic director Yuryev (1922-28), the theatre presented productions of young prominent directors, among them Petrov (general manager and artistic director in 1928-32), S.E. Radlov (artistic director in 1936-38), Vivien (artistic director in 1938-66), and K.P. Khokhlov; and artists V.V. Dmitriev, N.P. Akimov, M.Z. Levin, B.M. Erbstein, and I.M. Rabinovich. In 1924 Akdrama founded a theatre-studio to train the next generation of actors. Soviet drama dominated Petrov's repertoire (Armoured Train 14-69 by V.V. Ivanov, A Crank and Fear by A.N. Afinogenov). In the 1930-40s, B.M. Sushkevich (artistic director, 1932-36), V.P. Kozhich, B.A. Babochkin, N.S. Rashevskaya, A.A. Muzil, G.M. Kozintsev, and others enriched the list of directors associated with the Alexandrinsky Theatre. Pushkin's Boris Godunov (1934), Ostrovsky's The Forest (1936), Peter I (1938) based on A.N. Tolstoy's book and many other performances became the highlights of the Alexandrinsky Theatre in the 1930s. The company included V.L. Yureneva, Rashevskaya, N.K. Simonov, E.M. Wolf-Izrael, I.N. Pevtsov, K.I. Adashevsky, Babochkin, A.F. Borisov, N.K. Cherkasov, K.V. Skorobogatov, V.V. Merkuryev, Y.V. Tolubeev, O.Y. Lebzak, Y.O. Malyutin, and B.A. Freindlikh. In 1941 the theatre was evacuated to Novosibirsk, resuming its place in Leningrad in 1944. The best-known productions of the 1950-70s included Leo Tolstoy's The Living Corpse (staged by Kozhich and A.N. Dauson, 1950), W. Shakespeare's Hamlet (staged by Kozintsev, 1954), V.V. Vishnevsky's Optimistic Tragedy (staged by G.A. Tovstonogov, 1955), M. Gorky's The Lower Depths (staged by Vivien and V.V. Erenberg, 1956), M.A. Bulgakov's Flight, Alexander Pushkin's Little Tragedies (staged by Vivien, 1958, 1962), B. Brecht's The Good Person of Setzuan (staged by R.R. Suslovich, 1962), G. Hauptmann's Before Sunset (staged by Muzil, 1963), Y.M. Svirin's Autumn in Boldino and A.P. Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard (staged by R.A. Goryaev, 1969, 1972), C. Gozzi's The Green Bird (staged by N.M. Sheyko, 1976), Gorky's Children of the Sun, and Chekhov's Ivanov (staged by A.O. Sagalchik, 1976, 1978). Actors V.I. Chestnokov, I.O. Gorbachev (artistic director of the theatre, 1975-91), N.V. Mamaeva, N.N. Urgant, L.A. Chursina, and G.T. Karelina joined the company of the Alexandrinsky Theatre. In 1956-64, A.F. Bosulaev was the theatre's main actor, succeeded by M.F. Kitaev in 1973-90. The theatre's Literary Studies Department, which functioned in the 1930s was reinstated in the 1990s. The department was involved in research, publishing, and festival activities (The Flight of the Seagull International Conference of 1996, conferences dedicated to the works of A.P. Sumarokov, Meyerhold, Yuryev, Vivien and Simonov; workshops of the modern Russian and foreign drama etc.) In 1996 a series of books called the Library of the Alexandrinsky Theatre was published. Actors experimented on the Small Stage of the theatre (The attic of the Alexandrinsky). The theatre currently engages the following directors: V.E. Vorobyev, A.A. Praudin, A.V. Galibin, G.M. Kozlov, R.V. Smirnov, G.R. Trostyanetsky, and V.V. Fokin. As of 2003, the company includes S.I. Parshin, N.S. Marton, V.F. Smirnov, K.A. Petrova, S.S. Smirnova, N.V. Burov, A.L. Bargman, A.V. Devotchenko, I.N. Volkov, N.V. Panina, and E.K. Zimina. In 1991-2003 G.A. Sashchenko was the theatre's general manager and artistic director, and since 2003 V.V. Fokin its artistic director and A.V. Galibin its main director. The building of the Alexandrinsky Theatre (constructed in 1828-32) is one of the best examples of Petersburg Classicism, and is at the centre of a grandiose architectural ensemble created by architect C.I. Rossi (Alexandrinskaya Square, today Ostrovskogo Square, Zodchego Rossi Street, Lomonosova Square). The main facade is decorated with a gallery of six Corinthian columns crowned with an attic of moulded reliefs and an Apollo wheel (sculptor S.S. Pimenov). Bays on the sides of the main facade contain sculptures of Terpsihore and Melpomene, and at the back one of Clio and Thalia (restored in 1932 sculptor I.V. Krestovsky). The sides are adorned with 8-columned porticoes. The hall features 1102 seats.

References: Альтшуллер А. Я. Театр прославленных мастеров: Очерки истории Александрин. сцены. Л., 1968; Ленинградский государственный ... академический театр драмы им. А. С. Пушкина. Л., 1983.

A. A. Kirillov.\n
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Persons
\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Alexandra Fedorovna, Empress\n
\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Chekhov Anton Pavlovich\n
\n \n \n \n Cherkasov Nikolay Konstantinovich\n
\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Gogol Nikolay Vasilievich\n
\n \n \n \n Golovin Alexander Yakovlevich\n
\n \n \n \n \n \n Gorky Maxim (Alexey Maximovich Peshkov)\n
\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Krestovsky Igor Vsevolodovich\n
\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Lermontov Mikhail Yurievich\n
\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Nicholas I, Emperor\n
\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Pevtsov Illarion Nikolaevich\n
\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Pushkin Alexander Sergeevich\n
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\n \n \n \n Tolstoy Alexey Nikolaevich\n
\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n Yuryev Yury Mikhailovich\n
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