The Tovstonogov Drama Theater opened in February 1919. His repertoire today includes mainly classical works. Most of them are productions with a unique interpretation.

Story

The theater's first performance was F. Schiller's tragedy "Don Carlos".

Initially, the BDT was located in the building of the conservatory. In 1920 it received a new building, where it is still located. A photo of the BDT Tovstonogov is presented in this article.

The first name of the theater is “Special Drama Troupe”. The formation of the troupe was carried out by the famous actor N.F. Monakhov. First artistic director BDT became A.A. Block. The ideological inspirer was M. Gorky. The repertoire of that time included works by V. Hugo, F. Schiller, W. Shakespeare, etc.

The twenties of the 20th century were difficult for the theater. The era was changing. M. Gorky left the country. A.A. died Block. The main director A.N. left the theater. Lavrentyev and the artist New people came to take their place, but did not stay long.

A great contribution to the development of the BDT was made by director K.K., who came in 1929. Tverskoy - student of V.E. Meyerhold. He served in the theater until 1934. Thanks to him, the BDT’s repertoire included performances based on plays by contemporary playwrights at that time.

Georgy Aleksandrovich Tovstonogov came to the theater in 1956. He was already the eleventh leader in a row. With his arrival it began new era. It was he who created the theater, which has been among the leaders for many decades. Georgy Alexandrovich assembled a unique troupe, which became the best in the country. It included such actors as T.V. Doronina, O.V. Basilashvili, S.Yu. Yursky, L.I. Malevannaya, A.B. Freundlikh, I.M. Smoktunovsky, V.I. Strzhelchik, L.I. Makarova, O.I. Borisov, E.Z. Kopelyan, P.B. Luspekayev, N.N. Usatova and others. Many of these artists still serve in the Tovstonogov Bolshoi Drama Theater.

In 1964 the theater received the title of Academic.

In 1989, Georgy Alexandrovich Tovstonogov died. This tragic event came as a shock. Almost immediately after the death of the genius, his place was taken by National artist USSR Kirill Lavrov. He was chosen by team vote. Kirill Yuryevich put all his will, soul, authority and energy into preserving what was laid down by G.A. Tovstonogov. He invited talented directors to collaborate. The first production created after the death of Georgy Alexandrovich was the play “Cunning and Love” by F. Schiller.

In 1992, the BDT was named after G.A. Tovstonogov.

In 2007, T.N. was chosen for the position of artistic director. Chkheidze.

Since 2013, the artistic director has been A.A. Mighty.

Performances

BDT Tovstonogov offers its viewers the following repertoire:

• “Man” (notes of a psychologist who survived a concentration camp);
• "Tolstoy's War and Peace";
• "Gronholm Method";
• "Uncle's Dream";
• "Baptized with Crosses";
• “Theatre from the Inside” (interactive production);
• "Measure for measure";
• "Mary Stuart";
• “The Soldier and the Devil” (musical drama);
• "What to do?";
• “Three texts about the war”;
• "The Cripple of Inishmaan";
• "Quartet";
• “From the life of puppets”;
• "Languor";
• "When I'm Little Again";
• "One Year's Summer";
• "Innkeeper";
• "Player";
• "Women's Time";
• “Zholdak dreams: thieves of feelings”;
• "The House of Bernarda Alba";
• "Vassa Zheleznova";
• "Lady with a dog";
• "Alice";
• "The Visible Side of Life";
• "Erendira";
• "Drunk."

Premieres of the 2015-2016 season.

BDT Tovstonogov in the current theater season prepared several premieres. These are Tolstoy's War and Peace, Baptized with Crosses and The Gambler. All three productions are unique and original in their interpretation.

"Tolstoy's War and Peace" is not an ordinary stage version of the work. The play is a guide to the novel. This is a kind of excursion through some of the chapters. The performance gives the audience the opportunity to look at the novel in a new way and get away from the perception that has developed in school years. The director and actors will try to break stereotypes. The role of the guide is played by Alisa Freindlich.

The play “The Player” is a free interpretation of the novel by F.M. Dostoevsky. This is the director's fantasy. Several roles are played in this performance. The production is full of choreographic and musical numbers. Svetlana Kryuchkova’s artistic temperament is very close in spirit to the novel, which is why it was decided to entrust her with several roles at once.

“Baptized with crosses” - this is how the prisoners of cross prisons called themselves. They were absolutely different people. Thieves in law, political prisoners and their children who were in children's prisons or in reception centers. The performance is based on the book by Eduard Kochergin, an artist at the Bolshoi Drama Theater. This autobiographical work. Eduard Stepanovich talks about his childhood. He was the son of “enemies of the people” and spent several years in the NKVD children’s detention center.

Troupe

The actors of the Bolshoi Drama Theater are famous for their eccentricity, originality, talent and professionalism. Tovstonogov. List of artists:

• N. Usatova;
• G. Bogachev;
• D. Vorobyov;
• A. Freundlich;
• E. Yarema;
• O. Basilashvili;
• G. Shtil;
• S. Kryuchkova;
• N. Alexandrova;
• T. Bedova;
• V. Reutov;
• I. Botvin;
• M. Ignatova;
• Z. Sharko;
• M. Sandler;
• A. Petrovskaya;
• E. Shvareva;
• V. Degtyar;
• M. Adashevskaya;
• R. Barabanov;
• M. Starykh;
• I. Patrakova;
• S. Stukalov;
• A. Schwartz;
• L. Sapozhnikova;
• S. Mendelson;
• K. Razumovskaya;
• I. Vengalite and many others.

Nina Usatova

Many actors of the Bolshoi Drama Theater named after. Tovstonogov is known to a wide audience for his numerous roles in films. One of these actresses is the magnificent Nina Nikolaevna Usatova. She graduated from the legendary Shchukin Theater School. She came to work at the BDT in 1989. Nina Nikolaevna is a laureate of various theater awards, she was awarded medals, including “For Services to the Fatherland,” and was awarded the title of People’s Artist of Russia.

N. Usatova starred in the following films and TV series:

• "Feat of Odessa";
• "Window to Paris";
• "Fire Shooter";
• "Muslim";
• Next;
• "The Ballad of the Bomber";
• “The cold summer of '53...”;
• “See Paris and Die”;
• “The Case of Dead Souls”;
• “Quadrille (dance with exchange of partners)”;
• Next 2;
• "Poor Nastya";
• "Master and Margarita";
• Next 3;
• “Features of national policy”;
• "Mothers and Daughters";
• "The Widow's Ship"
• "Legend No. 17";
• “Furtseva. The Legend of Catherine".

And many other films were released with her participation.

Artistic director

Tovstonogov took the position of artistic director of the BDT in 2013. He was born in Leningrad on November 23, 1961. In 1984, he graduated from the Faculty of Radio Engineering of the Leningrad Institute of Aviation Instrumentation. Another 5 years later there was a department of acting and directing at the Institute of Culture. In 1990, Andrei founded his own independent troupe, called Formal Theatre, which won Grand Prix at festivals in Edinburgh and Belgrade. From 2003 to 2014 A. Moguchiy was a production director

Where is it and how to get there

In the center of the historical part of St. Petersburg is the main building of the Tovstonogov Drama Theater. Its address is the embankment of the Fontanka River, No. 65. The most convenient way to get to the theater is by metro. The nearest stations to it are Sadovaya and Spasskaya.

Dear viewers, we draw your attention to:
The section “About the Theater” on the BDT website is currently being updated and supplemented.

History of the Bolshoi Drama Theater

Big Theatre of Drama opened on February 15, 1919 with the tragedy of F. Schiller “Don Carlos”, beginning its performances in the Opera Studio of the Conservatory.

In 1964 it was awarded the title of Academic, in 1970 it was opened Small stage, since 1992 bears the name G.A. Tovstonogov.

In the fall of 1918, Commissioner for Theater Affairs M.F. Andreeva signed a decree on the creation of a Special Drama Troupe in Petrograd - this was the original name of the theater, famous today all over the world under the abbreviation BDT. Its formation was entrusted famous actor N.F. Monakhov, and the origins were two theater groups: the Tragedy Theater organized in 1918 under the direction of

Yu.M. Yuryeva and Theater artistic drama, which was headed by A.N. Lavrentyev.

A.A. was appointed to the post of Chairman of the Directory of the Bolshoi Drama Theater. Blok, who essentially became the first artistic director of the BDT. The main ideological inspirer of the new theater was M. Gorky. He wrote at the time: “The audience needs to be shown the man he himself - and all of us - have long dreamed of, a heroic man, chivalrously selfless, passionately in love with his idea... a man of honest deeds, of great feat...” Nominated Maxim Gorky's slogan " To the heroic people- heroic theater! was embodied in the repertoire of the BDT.

The heroes of W. Shakespeare, F. Schiller, V. Hugo appeared on the stage of the BDT. They affirmed the ideas of nobility, contrasting honor and dignity with the chaos and cruelty of the surrounding world. In the first years of the BDT's life, artists played a significant role in determining its artistic appearance. Each of them: and those who left the World of Art association A.N. Benoit and M.V. Dobuzhinsky, and monumental architect V.A. The Shchukos did it in their own way. But it was they who formed the solemn, truly magnificent style of the early BDT.

The advent of a new era coincided with difficult and sometimes tragic changes within the theater itself. In 1921, M.F. left Russia for several years. Andreev and M. Gorky, in the same year A.A. passed away. Blok, returned to Academic theater dramas Yu.M. Yuryev, A.N. left. Benois, left the BDT and became the main director A.N. Lavrentyev. New directors came to the theater: N.V. Petrov, K.P. Khokhlov, P.K. Weisbrem, K.K. Tverskoy; they brought new artists with them - Yu.P. Annenkova, M.Z. Levina, N.P. Akimova, V.M. Khodasevich, V.V. Dmitrieva. Having accepted from A.A. Blok’s symbolic relay race; in 1923, the literary part was headed by A.I. Piotrovsky.

In the new search for theater, the directing activity of the student V.E. played a major role. Meyerhold K.K. Tverskoy (1929-1934). In the mid-twenties, the BDT's repertoire was determined primarily by plays by modern playwrights such as B.A. Lavrenev, A. Fayko, Yu.K. Olesha, N.N. Nikitin, N.A. Zarkhi, V.M. Kirshon, N.F. Pogodin. The troupe is also being renewed,

A.I. come to BDT Larikov, V.P. Polizeimako, N.P. Korn, L.A. Krovitsky; EAT. Granovskaya, O.G. Casico, V.T. Kibardina, E.V. Alexandrovskaya, A.B. Nikritina.

Since the founding of the theater, directors have worked at the BDT: 1919-1921 and 1923-1929 - A.N. Lavrentiev; 1921-1922 - N.V. Petrov; 1929-1934 - K.K. Tverskoy; 1934-1936 - V.F. Fedorov; 1936-1937 - A.D. Wild; 1938-1940 - B.A. Babochkin; 1940-1946 -
L.S. Mine; 1946-1949 - N.S. Rashevskaya; 1950-1952 - I.S. Efremov; 1922-1923 and 1954-1955 - K.L. Khokhlov.

Thirty paces long. Twenty deep. Up - to the height of the curtain. The stage space is not that big. This space could accommodate a modern apartment - it would not be so unnaturally spacious. You can place a garden here. Perhaps a corner of the garden, no more. Here you can create a world. world of high human passions, opposing baseness, the world of deeds and the world of doubts, the world of discoveries and the high order of feelings leading the audience.

From the book “Mirror of the Stage”

At the beginning of 1956, the Bolshoi Drama Theater was preparing to celebrate its thirty-seventh birthday.

On the very eve of the holiday, the troupe was introduced to a new, eleventh, chief director.

Thus began an era in the BDT, whose name is Georgy Aleksandrovich Tovstonogov.

G.A. Tovstonogov created a theater that for decades has invariably remained the leader of the domestic theatrical process. The performances he created: “The Fox and the Grapes” by G. Figueiredo, “The Idiot” by F.M. Dostoevsky, “Five Evenings” by A. Volodin, “Barbarians” by M. Gorky, “Woe from Wit” by A.S. Griboyedov, “Philistines” by M. Gorky, “The Inspector General” by N.V. Gogol, “Three Sisters” by A.P. Chekhov, “Last Summer in Chulimsk” by A. Vampilov, “Energetic People” by V. Shukshin, “Three Bags of Weedy Wheat” by V. Tendryakov, “The History of a Horse” by L.N. Tolstoy, “Simplicity is enough for every wise man” by A. Ostrovsky, “At the Depth” by M. Gorky... became events

V theatrical life not only Leningrad, but the whole country, striking with the novelty of its interpretation and the originality of the director’s vision.

Bit by bit, personality to personality, G.A. Tovstonogov assembled an ensemble of unique acting individuals who made up the best drama troupe in the country. The roles played on the stage of the Bolshoi Drama Theater brought fame to I.M. Smoktunovsky, O.I. Borisov, revealed the bright talents of T.V. Doronina, E.A. Lebedeva, S.Yu. Yursky, E.Z. Kopelyan, P.B. Luspekeva, P.P. Pankova, E.A. Popova,

IN AND. Strzhelchika, V.P. Kovel, V.A. Medvedeva, M.V. Danilova, Yu.A. Demicha, I.Z. Zabludovsky, N.N. Trofimov, K.Yu. Lavrova,

A.Yu. Tolubeeva, L.I. Painted. A.B. is still playing in the BDT. Freindlikh, O.V. Basilashvili, Z.M. Sharko, V.M. Ivchenko, N.N. Usatova, E.K. Popova, L.V. Nevedomsky, G.P. Bogachev, G.A. Calm.

On May 23, 1989, returning from the theater, Georgy Aleksandrovich Tovstonogov died suddenly while driving his car.

In the days when the theater had not yet recovered from the shock, by secret vote of the team, the artistic director of the BDT unanimously elected People's Artist of the USSR, laureate State awards K.Yu. Lavrov.

On April 27, 2007, the theater said goodbye to K.Yu. Lavrov. In June, by a unanimous decision of the troupe, the artistic director of the Bolshoi Drama Theater named after G.A. Tovstonogov, People's Artist of Russia and Georgia T.N. Chkheidze, who served in this post until March 2013.

The Russian State Academic Bolshoi Drama Theater (BDT) is one of the first Soviet theaters. The prefix “named after G.A. Tovstonogov" he received in honor of his leader - famous director Georgy Tovstonogov.

Theater of Big Names

Before this, the theater bore the name of M. Gorky and was called the Leningrad Academic Bolshoi Drama Theater. Actually, thanks to Maxim Gorky, the theater was organized in 1919; The basis of his troupe was made up of artists from the Art Drama Theater, created a year before. In 1920, the theater received a building on Fontanka, and remains there to this day. An interesting fact: the first performance of the theater - “Don Carlos” based on Schiller’s play - lasted for five whole hours; the premiere took place in winter, in mid-February, in the frost, and the building was not heated - but the audience willingly spent the whole evening in the hall. What was happening on stage was so exciting! And this is not surprising. After all, throughout its existence, the charisma of the Bolshoi Drama Theater was based on the bright energy of outstanding figures Russian culture. Many big names are associated with this theater. In 1919, poet Alexander Blok was appointed chairman of the artistic council. Maxim Gorky continued to take the most ardent part in the fate of the theater. This cultural platform was intended to become a source of heroic pathos, revolutionary ideology, majestic passions that are not limited to the fate of one person, but capture the fate of many. In those years, the repertoire of the Bolshoi Drama Theater was based on a revolutionary program. It consisted of works of world drama that corresponded to heroic sentiments: Shakespearean tragedies, dramas by Hugo, plays by Merezhkovsky and Bryusov. But the fate of the theater turned out to be changeable. For various reasons - political or personal - talented directors did not stay there for long, the team for a long time remained without a leader, without a strong hand, the theater gradually lost popularity... And only in 1956 a new era began: the outstanding and successful director Georgy Tovstonogov, who was very demanding on the quality of acting and set the highest bar at work. For more than 30 years, the fate of the theater was decided: the popularity and love of the audience returned to it.

According to the most stringent criteria of stage quality

The most important criterion for an actor's skill in the theater remains his intellectual level and ability to improvise. This is what has made the Bolshoi Drama troupe one of the strongest theater groups in the world for decades. “Trained” by the strict director Tovstonogov, the actors passed on to new generations the tradition of being demanding of themselves and impeccable smart acting. In the 90s, after the death of the main director, the theater was again “in search”; it was temporarily headed by Kirill Lavrov, who then transferred the leadership to director Temur Chkheidze. Changes affected the Bolshoi Drama Theater in 2011-2014: like many other theaters at this time, it underwent technical restoration. Critics, and many spectators, feared that after the reconstruction the theater would no longer be the same - its ideology and philosophy would also change... But the very first performance was “Alice” based on the works of L. Carroll with Alice Freundlich in leading role- became the owner of the highest theater award St. Petersburg "Golden Soffit" in the categories " Best performance" and "Best female role" It is impossible to buy tickets to the Bolshoi Drama Theater on the day of the performance - after all, this is one of the most popular stage venues, historical and Cultural Center, for which they prepare in advance for a visit...

In fact, these three milestones mark the most significant periods in the life of the theater born of the revolution. Since 1920 it has occupied the building of the former Suvorinsky Theater on Fontanka. Before the revolution, the St. Petersburg Maly Theater was located here, where at the turn of the century the troupe of the Literary and Artistic Society worked. Since the main shareholder, unofficial artistic director, and also its ideologist was the publisher of the newspaper “Novoe Vremya” A.S. Suvorin, St. Petersburg residents called the theater Suvorinsky. From time to time, the life of the theater, sparse in artistic events, was illuminated by creative discoveries. So, for the first premiere of the theater it was staged by E. Karpov Power of darkness L.N. Tolstoy, with P. Strepetova in the role of Matryona. Performances with the participation of P. Orlenev, an actor who created a new role of “neurasthenic”, became an equally major phenomenon. M. Chekhov studied at the theater school, was accepted after training at the Suvorin Theater and successfully worked there before entering the Moscow Art Theater in 1912. After the death of K.Yu. Lavrov in 2007, he was appointed Artistic Director of the Bolshoi Drama Theater. G.A. Tovstonogov was appointed T.N. Chkheidze.

THEATER BORN OF A REVOLUTION

Actually real story BDT starts after October revolution. Opened new theater February 15, 1919 performance Don Carlos F. Schiller indoors Great Hall conservatory. The first theater of the Soviet dramatic arts was conceived as a theater of heroic repertoire, large-scale images, “great tears and great laughter” (Blok). Born of a heroic era, he was supposed to convey its special greatness. It was supposed to be a theater of "heroic tragedy, romantic drama And high comedy" The main ideological inspirer of the new theater was M. Gorky. In the early years, mainly classical plays were staged, in which tyrant-fighting, freedom-loving motives were emphasized. Major actors N.F. Monakhov, V.V. Maksimov joined the troupe, and moved from Petrogradsky for several years State Theater dramas (Akdram) Yu.M. Yuriev, the main romantic premiere of the Alexandrinsky stage. The main director was A.M. Lavrentiev, who staged the following productions: Don Carlos (1919), Othello And King Lear W. Shakespeare (1920). Performances were also staged by N.V. Petrov ( twelfth Night Shakespeare, 1921; Ruy Blaz V.Hugo, 1921), B.M.Sushkevich ( Robbers Schiller, 1919), A.M. Benois ( Servant of two masters C. Goldoni and A reluctant doctor Moliere, 1921), R.V. Boleslavsky ( Tattered Cloak S. Benelli, 1919). Artists A.N. Benois, M.V. Dobuzhinsky, V.A. Shchuko and composers B.V. Asafiev, Yu.A. Shaporin, in close contact with directors, sought to adhere to the traditions of stage romanticism. In the early 1920s, dramas by German expressionists appeared in the repertoire of the Bolshoi Drama Theater, which were embodied by K.P. Khokhlov in an urban spirit, in a constructivist design - Gas G. Kaiser (1922, artist Yu.P. Annenkov), Virgin forest E. Toller (1924, artist N.P. Akimov). Aesthetically related to these productions was the play Riot of machines A.N. Tolstoy (adaptation of the play by K. Capek R.U.R.., 1924, artist Annenkov).

Great importance For the fate of the theater, the involvement of the poet A.A. Blok as chairman of the Directory of the BDT was significant.

But along with the heroic-romantic productions of Schiller, Shakespeare, as well as experimental work, the theater focused on box office performances and often staged “lightweight” historical melodramas. One of them - The Empress's Conspiracy A.M. Tolstoy and P.E. Shchegolev (1925, director Lavrentyev, artist Shchuko) - enjoyed great success.

THE THEATER IS CLOSING TO MODERNITY

The most serious performances of that period are associated with the work of K.K. Tverskoy, who usually worked with the artist M.Z. Levin; Among them, productions of plays became important modern authors – Mutiny(1925) and Fault B.A. Lavreneva (1927), Man with a briefcase A.M.Fayko (1928), City of winds V.M. Kirshon (1929), My friend N.F. Pogodina (1932). From the mid-1920s, Soviet plays began to define the repertoire of the Bolshoi Drama Theater. Following the times, the theater for the first time tried to bring Romance closer to reality, to combine heroic pathos with a specific living environment. The theater troupe formed strong acting personalities: O.G. Kaziko, V.T. Kibardina, A.I. Larikov, V.P. Politseymako, K.V. Skorobogatov, V.Ya. Sofronov.

In the year of production Rift, K.S. Stanislavsky, during the Leningrad tour of the Moscow Art Theater, wrote on a portrait donated to the BDT: “Your theater is one of those few that know that the revolution in art is not only in external form, but in the inner essence...”.

For many actors, participation in Gorky’s plays was a turning point. Gorky's plays were a significant success Egor Bulychev and others(1932, directed by K.K. Tverskoy and V.V. Lyutse) and Dostigaev and other(1933, directed by Lutze). It was no coincidence that the name of Gorky was given to the theater. Deviation from Gorky’s laws of dramaturgy, which always presupposed clarity of thought, clarity ideological position, brightness of characters, irreconcilable conflict and special theatricality, almost every time led the theater to failure.

G.A. TOVSTONOGOV COMES TO THE THEATER

After Tverskoy left, a difficult time began in the theater. Artistic directors changed frequently: 1934 – V.F. Fedorov, 1936–1937 – A.D. Dikiy, 1939–1940 – B.A. Babochkin, 1940–1944 – L.S. Rudnik. In an atmosphere of aesthetic unpretentiousness and multidirectional quests, only a few performances became noteworthy events in stage art: Bourgeois Gorky (1937, director Dikiy); Summer residents Gorky (1939) and Tsar Potap A.A. Kopkova (1940 - both directed by Babochkin); King Lear Shakespeare (1941, director G.M. Kozintsev). In the first years of the great Patriotic War The theater worked in Kirov, in 1943 it returned to Leningrad and continued to work under the blockade, serving the troops of the Leningrad Front and hospitals.

The creative crisis of the BTC, which emerged in the mid-1930s, post-war years worsened. Artistic directors stayed in the theater only for a short time: 1946–1950 – N.S. Rashevskaya, 1951–1952 – I.S. Efremov, 1952–1954 – O.G. Kaziko, 1954–1955 – K.P. Khokhlov. The introduction into the repertoire of numerous thematically relevant, but artisanal, and sometimes outright false plays led to a decrease in the artistic level of the performances, acting, loss of viewership. In 1956, G.A. Tovstonogov, who had 25 years of fruitful experience in various theaters (Tbilisi, Moscow, Leningrad), became the main director of the theater. His arrival coincided with the “thaw” - the revival public life countries after the XX Congress of the CPSU. In a short time, Tovstonogov brought the theater out of crisis, turning the disorganized troupe into a cohesive team capable of successfully solving the most complex creative problems. Decisive in the theatrical policy of the chief director was the renewal of the troupe and the choice of repertoire. To regain the viewer’s trust, Tovstonogov begins with unassuming, but lively and recognizable plays ( Sixth floor A. Zheri, When does acacia bloom? N. Vinnikova). Talented youth are actively involved in these productions, who soon became the basis of the renewed team (K. Lavrov, L. Makarova, T. Doronina, Z. Sharko). They brought to the stage a living breath of truth, open lyrical hearts, and genuinely sincere voices of our time. Liberated by the spiritual atmosphere of their time, the young actors, together with the director, affirmed a new hero - outwardly not at all heroic, but close to everyone in the audience, glowing inner beauty and talent for humanity. Productions of works modern dramaturgy – Five evenings(1959, in the center of which is an unusually subtle duet of E. Kopelyan and Z. Charko), My older sister(1961 with the brilliant T. Doronina and E. Lebedev) A.M. Volodin, and Irkutsk history A.N. Arbuzov (1960) - went in parallel with careful work on Russian classics, in which the director heard, first of all, the nerve of today. Performances Idiot according to F.M. Dostoevsky (1957 and 1966), Barbarians Gorky (1959), Woe from mind A.S. Griboyedova (1962), Three sisters A.P. Chekhov (1965), Bourgeois Gorky (1966, USSR State Prize, 1970) became major events in the spiritual life of society and determined the leading position of the BDT in the domestic performing arts. Of particular interest was the form of “performance-novel” that has developed in the BDT, which is characterized by thoroughness and subtlety psychological analysis the behavior of the characters, the enlargement of the images, close attention to the inner life of all the characters.

Barbarians A.M. Gorky turned out to be the first performance that transformed the recently diverse BDT troupe into a powerful and rich ensemble, where the director prepared and ensured great acting victories for P. Luspekayev - Cherkun, V. Strzhelchik-Tsyganov, V. Polizeimako-Redozubov, O. Kaziko-Bogaevskaya, Z. Sharko-Katya, T. Doronina - Nadezhda, E. Lebedev-Monakhov, her husband.

An event in the theatrical life of the country was the production Idiot with I. Smoktunovsky in the title role. A performance in which the director’s innovative style was especially clearly manifested: elusive in its diversity on the one hand, and external discreetness on the other. The director creates through the actor, together with the actor, and reveals their individuality, often unexpectedly for them (O. Basilashvili, V. Strzhelchik, O. Borisov).

No idea exists for Tovstonogov outside the artist. But the director does not “die in the actor.” Critic K. Rudnitsky wrote: “... the director comes to life in the actors, the art of each of the artists reveals one of the many facets of the art of the director himself...”. That's why main job in the theater - working with the author and artist. The main result of the work is the creation of an ensemble the highest culture who can solve the most complex creative problems and achieve stylistic integrity in any performance.

Contact with auditorium In performances, BDT is always aggravated. But there were performances where this condition became paramount. This is how the play was staged Woe from mind(1964) with the tragic and at the same time eccentric Chatsky-S. Yursky, who was looking for comrades in the hall, addressing the audience with lively youthful spontaneity, hoping for understanding.

Each performance by Tovstonogov has its own way of communicating with the audience, be it Horse history(1975) with E. Lebedev in the role of Kholstomer, Chekhov, Gorky or Gogol ( Auditor, 1972), where the director poses the toughest questions to his characters, and therefore to the audience. At the same time, the director’s novelty of reading arises from the depth of the text he has read, those layers of it that have not yet been seen and studied.

The revolutionary themes of the performances were read and understood in a new way Death of the squadron A. Korneychuk, Optimistic tragedy V. Vishnevsky, staged repeatedly, in different time, and Reading again M. Shatrova (1980), where a simple person who finds himself in the face of History is closely examined, without false pathos.

The characteristic slow development of Tovstonogov’s “performance-novels” ( Barbarians And Bourgeois; Virgin soil upturned according to M.A. Sholokhov, 1964, etc.) gradually brought actors and spectators to stormy, “explosive” climax moments.

In the 1970s, the director continued his theatrical searches, staging an epic novel in the field of great prose Quiet Don with O. Borisov in the role of Grigory - central figure a performance that eclipsed all other faces who have lost their scale in this system. The epic performance considered Gregory as tragic hero, who has no personal guilt before the fate of History. The director’s “novel” productions have always been accompanied by such a quality as polyphony.

But BDT was no stranger to cheerful, mischievous comedy. Viewers of the 1970s will long remember the festive, light-winged Hanuma A. Tsagareli (1972), staged with special lyricism, grace and brilliant acting by L. Makarova, V. Strzhelchik, N. Trofimov. The experience of a special “Vakhtangov” reading, with its open play the theater was successfully mastered by the director in Wolves and sheep A.N. Ostrovsky (1980), the opera-farce of A.N. Kolker sounded sharply tragicomic grotesque Death of Tarelkin according to A.V. Sukhovo-Kobylin (1982), who revealed great opportunities BDT actors in the field of open theatricality (acting works by E. Lebedev, V. Kovel, S. Kryuchkova, etc.). The comedic skills of the artists were honed both on the material modern play (Energetic people according to V. Shukshin, 1974), and in dramatization Pickwick Club according to Charles Dickens, 1978).

In addition to the already mentioned artists, E.A. Popova, M.A. Prizvan-Sokolova, O.V. Volkova, L.I. Malevannaya, Yu.A. Demich, A.Yu. Tolubeev, S.N. worked fruitfully in the troupe .Kryuchkova. In 1983, the BDT troupe was replenished with another unique stage master - A.B. Freindlich, who played and continues to play the most diverse roles - from three women of opposite make-up in comedy This ardent lover(N. Simon, 1983) to the tragic images of Lady Macbeth and Nastya ( At the bottom A.M. Gorky, 1987), etc.

THEATER NAMED AFTER G.A. TOVSTONOGOV

After the death of G.A. Tovstonogov in 1989, K.Yu. Lavrov became the artistic director of the BDT. In 1993, the theater was rightfully named after its former chief director, who became a whole theatrical era, not only for his theater, but also for his country.

A valuable contribution to the life of this theater was made by the productions of director T. Chkheidze, which largely coincided with Tovstonogov’s requirements for the performance. The depth and scale of T. Chkheidze’s directorial vision was embodied by him through a carefully selected ensemble of actors. His most interesting performances are: Deceit and love F. Schiller (1990), Macbeth U . Shakespeare, (1995), Antigone J. Anouya (1996), Boris Godunov A. Pushkin (1998).

In the modern BDT, many of G.A. Tovstonogov’s performances continue to be staged, which are not only preserved, but live a full life.

In 2007, after the death of K. Lavrov, Temur Chkheidze, who had worked with the BDT since 1991, and in 2004 agreed to become the chief director, was appointed artistic director. In February 2013, Chkheidze resigned and resigned as artistic director.

Ekaterina Yudina

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.

History of the birth of the theater

Bolshoi Drama Theater named after. Tovstonogov was opened on February 15, 1919. Due to the lack of its 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. The Commissioner of Theaters and Entertainment supported him. Also among the founders is the artist A. Benois.

The Arts Council, which was headed by M. Gorky, decided to invite directors A. Lavrentiev and N. Arbatov to the positions. Actor N. Monakhov was appointed head of the troupe and was in charge of selecting artists. Music directors theater became A. Gauk and Y. Shaporin. The troupe was assembled from outstanding artists who were leading actors in other theaters, and among them was Yu. Yuryev, a small movie star.

The BDT received its own building in 1920 and has not changed its location to this day.

To Tovstonogov

Since the spring of 1919, A. Blok was the chairman of the theater’s artistic council. Bolshoi Drama Theater named after. In the first years of its existence, Tovstonogov demonstrated performances that corresponded to the plans of its creators, who wanted to see a revolutionary program in it - the repertoire was heroic and social nature. On stage there were productions based on the works of F. Schiller, V. Hugo, W. Shakespeare, since Soviet drama had not yet received its development. In many ways, the face of the theater was determined by its artists. Among them was the famous As actress N. Lejeune, who played in the theater at that time, stated, no props were used on stage, the 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 play she wore a dress that actually belonged to her heroine, who existed in reality. Great importance was attached to music; B. Asafiev, Yu. Shaporin, I. Vyshnegradsky collaborated with the theater.

From 1921 to 1923, events took place in the theater big changes. 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 the invitation to the BDT. Main director A. Lavrentiev left his post in 1921, but returned two years later and held this position until 1929. The artist A. Benois left the theater. In their places came other people who brought something new and expanded the repertoire with plays by domestic and foreign playwrights of that era.

From 1929 to 1935, the main director was K. Tverskoy, a student of V. Meyerhold. Since then, the number of new productions classical works decreased. And during the entire period of K. Tverskoy’s leadership, two new classical plays were staged. Preference was given to the works of modern authors: Y. Olesha, N. Pogodin, A. Faiko, L. Slavin.

In 1932, the theater was named after one of its founders; it began to be called “named after Gorky”. Then some of the writer’s works were included in the repertoire.

Theater in 1935-1955

There was a time when the Bolshoi Drama Theater. Tovstonogov was experiencing a creative crisis. This period lasted 20 years - from 1935 to 1955. This time can be called a crisis of directing, since talented directors appeared and declared themselves 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 were delayed for an average of 1-2 years. Due to frequent changes of directors, the atmosphere in the team deteriorated, the quality of productions decreased, the Bolshoi Drama Theater lost popularity, there were sometimes fewer spectators than actors on stage, the financial situation worsened, and there was a threat of closure.

During the era of Tovstonogov

In 1956, G. Tovstonogov was invited to the position of chief director of the BDT, who was given great powers. He began his tenure by firing many actors. New leader tried to attract the viewer, for this reason comedies appeared in the repertoire. Already at the beginning of 1957, the Bolshoi Drama Theater. Tovstonogov regained his former popularity, and performances began to take place in front of full houses. After 6 years of work, G. Tovstonogov gained fame as a talented and successful director. The theater went on tour in many countries around the world and gained popularity abroad. Georgy Alexandrovich held the position of 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 assembled a staff that worked on a permanent basis. However, he often invited directors from other theaters to collaborate. In 1992, the BDT received its modern name. In 2004, he found a chief director, T. Chkheidze, who held this position until 2013.

Theater today

In March 2013, A. Moguchiy 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 was inaugurated. Tovstonogov. The photo below is an image auditorium BDT.

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

Famous theater actors and their repertoire

Over the years, such actors as T. Doronina, P. Luspekayev, O. Basilashvili, I. Smoktunovsky, A. Freundlich, N. Usatova and others shone on the stage of the Bolshoi Drama Theater, glorifying and continuing to glorify the Bolshoi Drama Theater. Tovstonogov.

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

How to get there

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