Kaluga Regional Drama Theatre. Kaluga theater: history of creation, reviews and repertoire

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Each theater has a unique aura and a wonderful atmosphere that leaves a special response in the soul of the viewer. One institution is considered prestigious, another - fashionable, the third - avant-garde, the fourth - rebellious. Somewhere and you will go to enjoy the creativity of the true masters of their craft.

If you want to leave somewhere far behind all your worries and fill your heart with warm human feelings, then you need to visit one cozy small drama theater - Kaluga.

Architectural ensemble

The theater building is located in the city center, surrounded by a linden alley. A chain of fountains leads from the main street of Kirov to it and the adjacent square. They are equipped with a light and music complex for bright enchanting performances and are decorated with tiny figurines of city birds. On the steps of the building there is a sculpture of a touching girl with a sign: “No extra ticket?” This is a sign of the theater's sincere gratitude to its audience.

In 1958, instead of the building destroyed during the war years, a new building was built, in which the Kaluga Drama Theater is located to this day. The scheme of the hall and the constructive solution of the facades are made according to classical architectural canons. A small, traditional-style hall with two tiers creates a feeling of pleasant proximity to the stage.

History of the creation of the theater

In the second half of the 18th century, the passion for the performing arts captured the Russian high society. Governor General M. N. Krechetnikov founded the Kaluga Drama Theater in 1777. Actors discharged from the capital and local talents in a converted merchant barn presented the first performance to the audience.

In the forties of the 19th century, Alexandra Osipovna Smirnova-Rosset came to Kaluga with her husband, the governor. Beloved maid of honor of the Empress, a true admirer and connoisseur of the arts, friend and muse of Zhukovsky, Pushkin, Vyazemsky, Lermontov, Khomyakov, Aksakov and Gogol.

With her appearance, the arts flourish in the province, communities of admirers of literature, poetry, and music gather. The real rise until the beginning of the First World War is experienced by the dramatic theater. The Governor of Kaluga orders the construction of a new building to replace the burned-out old one. The greatest actors of that time performed on the new stage: Shchepkin M. S., Mochalov I. S., and later Savina M. G., Zorina V. V. The troupe of the Maly Theater comes on tour several times.

Lunacharsky A. V., who was in exile in 1900believed that the Kaluga Drama Theater surpassed many of its Russian counterparts.

On the wave of revolutionary enthusiasm, cultural life revives again. Although some of the actors left the city, the new team is actively winning the love of art lovers, offering the audience new stage and repertoire ideas, and reviving the traditions that the drama theater was famous for. The Kaluga performance based on the play by M. Gorky "At the Bottom" is staged with the participation of a Moscow guest - the great I. M. Moskvin. People's Artist of the USSR V. I. Kachalov is coming to Kaluga on tour.

Already in November 1945, a new season opens in the city liberated after the occupation, theatrical life flourishes again and gains new momentum. Leading performers from Moscow play on the Kaluga stage together with KDT actors: the role of Murzavetsky in Wolves and Sheep was played by the famous I. Ilyinsky, and M. Zharov shone in Optimistic Tragedy., Dodonkin A. V., Sladky S. N., Volskaya L. P., Tyurin A. I., Romanovsky V. I., Valisiadi I. B., Blazhnova I. S.

Modern Kaluga Regional Drama Theater

From 1997 to 2014, Alexander Pletnev held the post of chief director. During the period of the most difficult state reforms and financial crises, the theater under his leadership overcame the period of post-perestroika revivalculture and art. A lot of innovative ideas, unique developments and interesting performances by A. Pletnev put stage skills at the Kaluga Drama Theater to the highest level.

Since 1997, an experiment has been set up: a course of students from RATI-GITIS was recruited. Young actors of the first release play in KDT and on other stages of Russia. The successful undertaking continued and several more streams of students were recruited - the Kaluga course of the Theater Institute. Schukin.

From 2000 to the present, the director is Alexander Anatolyevich Krivovichev. Thanks to his efforts, the life of the theater revived, the material and technical support of performances improved, benefit performances of leading actors are held, the troupe wins prizes at reviews, competitions and festivals.

Today, real masters are playing on the Kaluga stage: People's Artists of Russia Logvinovsky V. S. and Pakhomenko M. A., as well as Honored Artists of Russia Efremenko N. V., Kornyushin S. P., Kremneva L. A., Kuznetsov M. A., Lunin S. B., Parfirova L. E., Sumin E. N. Masters and experienced performers form a single harmonious ensemble with young talents on stage.

Repertoire

What exactly is closer to you? Performances based on the works of the classics, staging plays by contemporary authors, or are you a fan of the skill of a particular actor? The Kaluga Drama Theater has about thirty works in its repertoire.

You can introduce a child to the world of the stage by visiting colorful, kind andbright children's productions of "Aibolit-2014", "Dunno and his friends" and "Alice in Wonderland".

Outstanding classical works of world literature in a modern interpretation are presented in the performances "Guilty Without Guilt" by N. Ostrovsky, "The Venetian Twins", "Two Veronese" and "King Lear" by W. Shakespeare, "The Fruits of Enlightenment" by L. Tolstoy, "Inspector" and "Marriage" by N. Gogol.

You will get a real pleasure from the complex and psychological works of modern playwrights: V. Sigarev's "Gupeshka", "The House of the Rising Sun" by G. Sukachev, "The Mousetrap" by A. Christie and others. And the performances based on the plays by E. Poddubnaya "The Private Life of the Queen" and R. Tolskaya "Without Makeup" fully reflect all the facets of the talent of two amazing theater actresses.

The repertoire of the theater has a large list of interesting and funny comedies that will appeal to any viewer E. Burroughs "Cactus Flower", R. Cooney "No. 13", M. Staritsky "Chasing Two Hares" and others.

Association of the Oldest Theaters of Russia

This public association was created on the initiative of A. A. Krivovichev. 32 creative teams became its members. The association's festivals were attended by the State Academic Maly Theatre, Alexandrinsky Theater from St. Petersburg, acting troupes from Yaroslavl, Nizhny Novgorod, Vladimir, Ulyanovsk, Saratov, Penza, Tula, Voronezh. The purpose of creating a community of theaters is to preserve the Russian theater school and improve the skill level of provincial troupes through cooperation with colleagues from the capital.

FestivalsAssociations were held in Kaluga in 2002, 2005, 2008, 2010 and 2013. Creative teams from all over the country send their best representatives to this forum. Current and classic, traditional and innovative performances representing the modern Russian drama theater, the Kaluga audience could see on their native stage.

Tours and reviews

The result of the rapprochement of the acting teams was the creative visits of guests from other cities to perform on the stage of the KDT. The return tours of the troupe in other cities enjoy success. Minsk, Tula, Bryansk, Volgograd, Kostroma, Parma (Italy) - this is an incomplete list of stages where the Kaluga Drama Theater visited. Reviews of the audience about the performances seen are the most friendly and warm. One of the theatergoers said that the productions of the Kaluga troupe are very sincere and warm: “It seems that in the back of the stage someone is playing a quiet, sad and simple melody on the violin.”