The most famous theater in St. Petersburg, which wasone of the first, founded after the October Revolution. In different years, famous directors and actors served and served there. BDT is considered one of the most beautiful theaters in the world.
The idea to organize the theater belongs to M. Gorky. She was supported by M. Andreeva, a commissar of theaters and circuses. Also to the founders is the artist A. Benois.
The Art Council, which was headed by M.Gorky, decided to invite directors A. Lavrentyev and N. Arbatov to the posts. Actor N. Monakhov was appointed to the group and was engaged in the selection of artists. The musical directors of the theater were A. Gauk and Yu. Shaporin. The troupe was assembled from prominent artists who were leading actors of other theaters, and among them was Yu. Yuriev - the star of a little movie.
BDT's own building was received in 1920 and to this day does not change its location.
From 1921 to 1923 in the theater there were bigchanges. Those who stood at its sources: M. Gorky and M. Andreeva - left Russia. A. Block died. Some actors returned to the theaters, where they served before the invitation to the BDT. The main director A. Lavrentiev left his post in 1921, but two years later he returned and until 1929 held this post. Left the theater artist A. Benois. 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 main director was K.Tver - a student of V. Meyerhold. Since then, the number of new productions for classical works has decreased. And for the entire period of the leadership of K. Tversky, two new classical plays were staged. Preference was given to the works of contemporary authors: Yu. Olesha, N. Pogodin, A. Faiko, L. Slavin.
In 1932, the theater was named after one of its founders, it became known as "Gorky's name". Then the repertoire included some of the writer's works.
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 direction, as talented directors appeared and declared themselves interesting performances, but did not stay long and left the theater (not always of their own free will). K. Tversky in 1935 was deported from the city, and was soon shot. A. Wild served in the theater only a year, then was arrested. All the directors who were after him were delayed by an average of 1-2 years. Due to the frequent change of leaders, the atmosphere in the team deteriorated, the quality of the productions decreased, the BDT lost its popularity, the spectators were sometimes smaller than the actors on the stage, the financial situation deteriorated, and the threat of closure appeared.
In 1956, as chief director of the BDTwas invited G. Tovstonogov, who was granted great powers. He began his service in the post with the fact that he fired many actors. The new leader tried to attract the viewer, for this reason the comedy appeared in the repertoire. Already in the beginning of 1957 the Bolshoi Drama Theater named after. Tovstonogov returned former popularity, and performances began to take place at full halls. After 6 years of work G. Tovstonogov won the glory of a talented and successful filmmaker. 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.
After the death of G.Tovstonogov, he was replaced by K. Lavrov, who was not a director, and therefore the theater was in constant search of the directors. Lavrov assembled a staff that worked on an ongoing basis. However, he often invited directors from other theaters to cooperate. In 1992 BDT got its modern name. In 2004, the Bolshoi Drama Theater named after Tovstonogov became the main director, he became T. Chkheidze, who held this position until 2013.
In March 2013, the artistic directorBDT became A. Moguchiy. From 2011 to 2014 the theater building on Fontanka was closed for restoration. On September 26, the Grand Drama Theater was unveiled. Tovstonogov. The photo below is an image of the BDT's auditorium.
The theater has three venues: in the building on the Fontanka Embankment there are two halls, and one in the Kamennoostrovsky Theater.
In different years on stage BDT shined such actors,as T. Doronin, V. Strzhelchik, P. Luspekaev, O. Basilashvili, I. Smoktunovsky, A. Freindlikh, N. Usatova and others, who glorified and continue to glorify the Bolshoi Drama Theater. Tovstonogov.
