2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25
The theater is a national Russian heritage that dates back to the 17th century. It was then that the formation of the basic principles of theatrical performances began and the foundation was laid for this type of art in Russia.
The origins of the Russian theater
Russian people have always been famous for their ability to diversify their leisure time. Since ancient times, fairs and holidays were held in Russia, at which buffoons became the main characters. This is what the people called artists, among whom were singers, musicians, and actors.
Usually theatrical performances were timed to coincide with some church or national holiday. However, over time, festivities could be arranged without any reason. Buffoons were people without shelter and money, they often gathered in separate groups and went around cities and villages in order to earn money. In their performances, they used various musical instruments (pipes, ps altery), puppets, home-made costumes.
A little later, the artists, coming to a new city, erected a special building on its square, where they lived and received the audience. Such a building became known as a booth,subsequently, all theatrical performances received the same name. The buffoons' repertoire included social satire, jokes, ballads, fairy tales.
And although with the advent of a real theater, the attitude towards booths became sharply negative and negative, we must not forget about the influence that old Russian entertainment had on the formation of the theater.
Elements of the theatre, resulting from folk performances
Since the theater in the 17th century in Russia was just beginning its long journey, many elements and details were adopted from buffoons and taken from folk performances.
First of all, these are the theater rooms. The first such hall was the Amusement Chamber, where buffoons were invited to perform since 1613. In full, such performances could not be called a theater, because they were of a circus nature with an abundance of humor and various tricks.
Second, the stage. During their performances, buffoons gathered a large crowd of people around them, and it became necessary to demonstrate their talents on some kind of elevation so that all people could see it. The first stage was built for a puppet show.
Third, oral drama. Buffoons performed works written by the people. Thus was born the famous hero Petrushka.
17th century court theater
Even Tsar Mikhail Fedorovich, during his reign, thought about creating a court theater. However, to implement this idea, foreign specialists were needed, since there were noeven noble playwrights and artists capable of serving Melpomene with dignity.
In 1644, a troupe of actors arrived in Russia from Strasbourg, which had been preparing their performance for a month. However, for unknown reasons, they were expelled from the country.
A full-fledged theater in the 17th century in Russia appeared under Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich. The idea was voiced by the boyar Artamon Matveev, who often visited Europe and saw what art could be. The first Russian theater of the 17th century began its work in 1672.
A pastor from the German settlement, Johann Gottfried Gregory, on the orders of Matveev, gathered a troupe of actors, consisting of men and boys, in a few weeks, and gave them lessons in dramatic art. He also wrote the first play based on the biblical stories about Esther.
A real theater stage was built in the village of Preobrazhensky. The premiere of the performance took place on October 17. The performance went on for ten hours, but the tsar, the boyars, and the tsarina and her retinue sat through to the end.
In 1673 the stage was moved to the Kremlin. The playwright was well rewarded for his work and hastened to start writing a new play. This time he wrote about Judith, also using a biblical story. Theater in the 17th century in Russia became the main entertainment of the king.
After Gregory's death in 1675, his assistant Givner, who created several successful dramatic productions, became the head of the court theater. However, the Russian court theater of the 17th century ceased to exist in 1676, after the death of Tsar AlexeiMikhailovich.
School theater
The theater in the 17th century in Russia was just beginning its rapid development, including at religious educational institutions. This became possible with the feasible participation of the church, which sought to strengthen its position among the people.
The first school theaters were opened at the Kiev-Mohyla and Slavic-Greek-Latin Academy. Religious performances formed the basis of the repertoire, but there was also a place for an interlude. Satire affected the interests of the clergy, and eventually school theaters ceased to exist closer to the 18th century.
School theater has also influenced traditions. Sideshow became the prototype of modern comedy. The actors obeyed the principles of classicism in their productions, and also used symbols, including in clothing.
Foreign Tours
The theater in the 17th century in Russia adopted invaluable experience from foreign touring troupes in Italy, Prussia and France. Thanks to them, the triumph of spiritual thought was accomplished, they were sources of social and creative development.
With the coming to power of Fyodor Alekseevich, the theater, painting, music of the 17th century were doomed to a long stagnation, since the new tsar had little interest in art. But fate decreed that the age of his reign was short.
Peter the Great, who ascended the throne, gave a new round to the development of theater and art in general in Russia.
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