Bolshoy Drama Theatre. Tovstonogov: repertoire, history

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

The most famous theater in St. Petersburg, which was one of the first founded after the October Revolution. In different years, famous directors and actors served and serve there. BDT is considered one of the most beautiful theaters in the world.

The story of the birth of the theater

Bolshoy Drama Theatre. Tovstonogov was opened on February 15, 1919. Due to the lack of their own building, the troupe gave performances at the Conservatory. The room was not heated, it was very cold, but every evening the halls were full.

The idea to organize a theater belongs to M. Gorky. He was supported by M. Andreeva, the commissioner of theaters and spectacles. Also among the founders is the artist A. Benois.

The Artistic Council, which was headed by M. Gorky, decided to invite A. Lavrentiev and N. Arbatov to the positions of directors. Actor N. Monakhov was appointed as a troupe and was engaged in the selection of artists. A. Gauk and Y. Shaporin became the musical directors of the theater. The troupe was assembled from outstanding artists who wereleading actors of other theaters, and among them was Yury Yuryev - a star of a bit of a movie.

The BDT received its own building in 1920 and to this day does not change its location.

Do Tovstonogov

Since the spring of 1919, A. Blok was the chairman of the theater's artistic council. Bolshoy Drama Theatre. Tovstonogov in the first years of its existence showed performances that corresponded to the plan of its creators, who wanted to see in it a revolutionary program - the repertoire was of a heroic and social nature. Performances based on the works of F. Schiller, V. Hugo, W. Shakespeare were staged, since Soviet dramaturgy had not yet received its development. In many ways, the face of the theater was determined by its artists. Among them was the famous B. Kustodiev. According to the actress N. Lejeune, who played in the theater at that time, props were not used on the stage, things were real: the furniture was borrowed from rich houses. Even the costumes were authentic. In 1925, the play "The Conspiracy of the Empress" was staged. The role of Vyrubova was played by N. Lejeune, and in the performance she put on a dress that really belonged to her heroine, who existed in reality. Great importance was attached to music, B. Asafiev, Y. Shaporin, I. Vyshnegradsky collaborated with the theater.

From 1921 to 1923, great changes took place in the theater. Those who stood at its origins: M. Gorky and M. Andreeva - left Russia. A. Blok died. Some actors returned to the theaters where they served before being invited to the BDT. Chief director A. Lavrentiev leftpost in 1921, but returned two years later and held this position until 1929. The artist A. Benois left the theater. In their place came other people who brought something new, expanded the repertoire with plays by domestic and foreign playwrights of that era.

From 1929 to 1935 the chief director was K. Tverskoy, a student of V. Meyerhold. Since then, the number of new productions based on the classics has declined. And for the entire period of leadership of K. Tversky, two new classical plays were staged. Preference was given to works by contemporary authors: Y. Olesha, N. Pogodin, A. Faiko, L. Slavin.

In 1932, the theater was named after one of its founders, it became known as "the name of Gorky". Then the repertoire included some of the writer's works.

The theater in 1935-1955

There was a time when the Bolshoi Drama Theatre. Tovstonogov experienced a creative crisis. This period lasted 20 years - from 1935 to 1955. This time can be called a crisis of directing, as talented directors appeared and announced themselves with interesting productions, but did not stay long and left the theater (not always of their own free will). K. Tverskoy was expelled from the city in 1935, and was soon shot. A. Dikiy served in the theater for only a year, then he was arrested. All the directors who came after him stayed on average for 1-2 years. Due to the frequent change of leaders, the atmosphere in the team deteriorated, the quality of productions decreased, the BDT lost popularity, there were sometimes fewer spectators than actors on stage, the financial situation worsened, andthere was a threat of closure.

In the era of Tovstonogov

In 1956, G. Tovstonogov was invited to the post of chief director of the BDT, who was given great powers. He began his service in the position by firing many actors. The new leader tried to attract the audience, for this reason comedies appeared in the repertoire. Already at the beginning of 1957, the Bolshoi Drama Theater. Tovstonogov returned to its former popularity, and performances began to take place with full houses. After 6 years of work, G. Tovstonogov won the fame of a talented and successful director. The theater went on tour in many countries of the world and gained popularity abroad. Georgy Alexandrovich served as the chief director of the BDT for three decades.

Late 20th - early 21st century

After G. Tovstonogov died, he was replaced by K. Lavrov, who was not a director, and therefore the theater was in constant search for directors. Lavrov gathered a staff that worked on a permanent basis. However, he often invited directors from other theaters to cooperate. In 1992, the BDT received its modern name. In 2004, the Tovstonogov Bolshoi Drama Theater acquired a chief director, T. Chkheidze, who held this position until 2013.

Theatre today

In March 2013, A. Moguchy became the artistic director of the BDT. From 2011 to 2014, the Fontanka Theater building was closed for restoration. On September 26, the renovated Bolshoi Drama Theater named after A. I. Tovstonogov. The photo below is an image of the auditoriumBDT.

The theater has three venues: there are two halls in the building on the Fontanka Embankment, and one in the Kamennoostrovsky Theatre.

Eminent theater actors and their repertoire

In different years, such actors as T. Doronina, V. Strzhelchik, P. Luspekaev, O. Basilashvili, I. Smoktunovsky, A. Freindlikh, N. Usatova and others, glorified and continue to glorify Bolshoy Drama Theatre. Tovstonogov.

His repertoire is very wide and includes classical and modern pieces.

How to get there

In the very center of the city, on the Fontanka Embankment, in the house number 65, there is the Bolshoi Drama Theatre. Tovstonogov. The address of its second stage is Krestovsky Ostrov metro station, Old Theater Square, building 13.