Vakhtangov Theatre. The scheme of the hall and its history

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

In the heart of Moscow, on the Old Arbat, there is a building designed in the spirit of Soviet classicism, with pilasters from the base to the roof. Every Muscovite knows this majestic mansion, in which a theater has existed since 1921. It bears the name of Evgeny Bagrationovich Vakhtangov.

Vakhtangov Theatre: history

The owners of the stone mansion on the site where the theater is located today were the Sabashnikov brothers. Serious publishing activity was carried out in the building, which was appreciated by bibliophiles for the responsible preparation of published works. The revolution that took place at the beginning of the 20th century stopped the publishing house’s half-century activity, the building was taken away from the owners and handed over to young theater figures led by Evgeny Vakhtangov. Having rebuilt the premises to suit the needs of the theater, the chief architect of the project, L. Mashkov, created an auditorium with a capacity of 150 people. Today, the Vakhtangov Theatre, whose hall layout clearly demonstrates the number of seats, can simultaneously accommodate 1,055 guests.

The building outlasted thebomb in 1941, several restructurings, including a political one, and finally got its present form.

Vakhtangov Theatre: floor plan

After the war, the reconstruction of the premises was entrusted to the architect P. V.

How is the theater hall arranged?

• The area closest to the stage and located just below it is the stalls. These are the most "tasty" places, true theater-goers strive to get here, and tickets for them cost accordingly.
• The next in terms of popularity and price is the amphitheater (literal translation - "around the theater"). Sometimes the performance looks much more interesting from these places. The amphitheater outperforms the stalls in the ability to view the entire stage.
• The mezzanine is located above the amphitheater (that is, "beautiful floor" in French). You need to have good eyesight or rent binoculars, because from these places you can’t see the details of the costume and facial expressions of the actors, and, accordingly, tickets are not so expensive anymore.
• The balcony is loved by students and retirees for the opportunity to attend a sold-out performance at a reasonable price. The perception of images is difficult due to the distance of the stage, but everything is heard perfectly, since the Vakhtangov Theater, the layout of the hall of which is presented in the article, scrupulously treats each viewer.
• Lodges - side parts of the balcony, mezzanine and amphitheater. The upper two tiers are not the most advantageous, but the places located on the sides of the amphitheater, called "benoir boxes", are quiteexpensive, which is fair as they provide the best view in the whole theater.

New stage

The new stage can accommodate 250 spectators and is located on the first floor of the house at 24 Arbat Street, which is adjacent to the main theater building. The opening of the site is dedicated to the 95th anniversary of the theater, which took place in 2015. The new building technologies used in the construction of the premises made it possible to construct a space that provides an excellent view of the stage from any place in the auditorium. With the help of an additional room, the Vakhtangov Theater, the layout of which is useful to every potential viewer, has increased the total area to 17.5 thousand square meters.

Historical fact

For the entire long history of the theatre's existence, the production of "Princess Turandot" is considered the most outstanding performance. This action was first presented to the public in the distant 1922. The Vakhtangov Theatre, whose hall layout, having gone through all the transformations, has increased almost 10 times, and today successfully puts on a bright, sparkling, musical pamphlet called "Princess Turandot". The performance occupies a special place in the theater's repertoire and through the decades remains the most famous and popular show in the country.

The Vakhtangov Theatre, whose photos are familiar to all Muscovites, thanks to its almost 100-year history, and today is one of the leading, most visited and modern theatersMoscow.