Each theater has a unique aura and wonderful atmosphere that leave a special response in the soul of the viewer. One institution is considered prestigious, the other is fashionable, the third is avant-garde, the fourth is rebellious. Somewhere and you will go to enjoy the work of true masters of their craft.
If you want to leave all your worries somewhere far behind and fill your heart with warm human feelings, then you need to visit one cozy small drama theater - Kaluga.
Architectural ensemble
The theater building is located in the city center, surrounded by a linden alley. From the main street of Kirov, a chain of fountains leads to it and the adjacent square. They are equipped with a light and music complex for bright enchanting performances and decorated with tiny figures of urban birds. On the steps of the building there is a sculpture of a touching girl with a sign: “Is there no extra ticket?” This is a sign of sincere gratitude of the theater to its audience.
In 1958, instead of the building destroyed during the war, a new building was built, which still houses the Kaluga Drama Theater. The layout of the hall and the structural solution of the facades are made according to classical architectural canons. A small, traditional-style hall with two tiers creates a feeling of pleasant proximity to the stage.
History of the theater
In the second half of the 18th century, a passion for stage art captured the Russian high society. Governor-General M.N., arrived from St. Petersburg Krechetnikov establishes in 1777 the Kaluga Drama Theater. The actors and local talents discharged from the capital in the converted merchant barn presented the first performance to the audience court.
In the forties of the 19th century, Alexandra Osipovna Smirnova-Rosset came to Kaluga with her husband as governor. Favorite maid of honor of the Empress, a true admirer and connoisseur of art, girlfriend and muse of Zhukovsky, Pushkin, Vyazemsky, Lermontov, Khomyakov, Aksakov and Gogol.
With its appearance, the flowering of arts in the province begins, communities of admirers of literature, poetry, and music gather. The real rise right up to the outbreak of World War I is experienced by the drama theater. The Kaluga governor orders the construction of a new building instead of the burnt old. The greatest actors of that time performed on the new stage: Shchepkin M.S., Mochalov I.S., and later Savina M.G., Zorina V.V. The Maly Theater troupe several times came on tour.
Lunacharsky A.V., who was in exile in 1900, believed that the Kaluga Drama Theater surpassed many of its Russian counterparts.
In the wake of revolutionary enthusiasm, cultural life comes to life again. Although some of the actors left the city, however, the new team is actively gaining the love of art admirers, offers viewers new stage and repertoire ideas, revives the traditions for which the drama theater was famous. The Kaluga performance based on the play by M. Gorky “At the Bottom” is staged with the participation of the Moscow guest - the great I. Moskvin. With tours to Kaluga comes People's Artist of the USSR V.I. Kachalov.
Already in November 1945, a new season opened in the city liberated after the occupation, theatrical life flourished again and gained new momentum. Leading performers from Moscow play on the Kaluga stage together with the KDT actors: the famous I. Ilyinsky acted as Murzavetsky in Wolves and Sheep , and M. Zharov shone in Optimistic Tragedy.
For many years real masters of the stage worked here: folk artists V. Nikitin and P. G. Vaneev, honored artists and artists of the Russian Federation Sokolov R.V., Lyubarsky D.S., Maysky F.M., Dodonkin A.V. ., Sweet S. N., Volskaya L. P., Tyurin A. I., Romanovsky V. I., Valisiadi I. B., Blazhnova I. S.
Modern Kaluga Regional Drama Theater
From 1997 to 2014, the post of chief director was held by Alexander Pletnev. During the most difficult state reforms and financial crises, the theater under his leadership overcame the period of post-perestroika revival of culture and art. Many innovative ideas, unique developments and interesting performances by A. Pletnev put the stage skills in the Kaluga Drama Theater to the highest level.
Since 1997, an experiment was delivered: a course of RATI-GITIS students was recruited. Young actors of the first release play in the CDT and on other stages of Russia. The successful undertaking was continued and several more streams of students were recruited - the Kaluga course of the Theater Institute. Schukin.
From 2000 to the present, the director is Alexander Anatolyevich Krivovichev. Thanks to his efforts, the life of the theater has revived, the material and technical support of performances has improved, the performances of leading actors are being held, the troupe takes prizes at shows, competitions and festivals.
Today, real masters play on the Kaluga stage: folk artists of Russia Logvinovsky V. S. and Pakhomenko M. A., as well as honored artists of Russia Efremenko N. V., Kornyushin S. P., Kremneva L. A., Kuznetsov M. A ., Lunin S. B., Parfirova L. E., Sumin E. N. Masters and experienced performers make up a single harmonious ensemble with young talents on stage.
Repertoire
What exactly is closer to you? Performances based on the works of classics, productions of plays by contemporary authors, or are you a fan of the skill of a particular actor? The repertoire of the Kaluga Drama Theater has about thirty works.
You can introduce a child to the world of the scene by visiting the colorful, kind and bright children's productions of Aibolit 2014, Dunno and His Friends and Alice in Wonderland.
The outstanding classical works of world literature in a modern interpretation are presented in the performances of N. Ostrovsky’s Guilty Without Guilt, Venetian Twins, Two Veronets and King Lear by Shakespeare, The Fruits of Education by L. Tolstoy, The Examiner and “The Marriage” of N. Gogol.
You will get real pleasure from the complex and psychological works of modern playwrights: V. Sigarev “The Gupeshka”, “The House of the Rising Sun” by G. Sukachev, “The Mousetrap” by A. Christie and others. And the performances based on the plays by E. Poddubnaya “The Queen’s Private Life” and R. Tolskaya “Without Make-up” fully reflect all the facets of the talent of two stunning theater actresses.
The theater’s repertoire includes a large list of interesting and funny comedies that any spectator E. Burroughs “Cactus Flower”, R. Cooney “No. 13”, M. Staritsky “For Two Hares” and others will like it.
Association of the oldest theaters in Russia
This public association was created at the initiative of A. Krivovichev. 32 creative groups became its members. The festivals of the association were attended by the State Academic Maly Theater, Alexandrinsky from St. Petersburg, acting troupes from Yaroslavl, Nizhny Novgorod, Vladimir, Ulyanovsk, Saratov, Penza, Tula, Voronezh. The goal of creating a community of theaters is to preserve the Russian theater school and improve the skills of provincial troupes through cooperation with metropolitan colleagues.
Association festivals took place in Kaluga in 2002, 2005, 2008, 2010 and 2013. Creative groups from all over the country send their best representatives to this forum. Kaluga viewers were able to see current and classical, traditional and innovative performances representing the modern Russian drama theater on their native stage.
Tours and reviews
The result of the rapprochement of the acting groups was the creative visits of guests from other cities to perform on the stage of the KDT. Success enjoyed return trips of the troupe in other cities. Minsk, Tula, Bryansk, Volgograd, Kostroma, Parma (Italy) - this is an incomplete list of stage venues where the Kaluga Drama Theater has visited. The audience’s reviews of the seen performances are the most friendly and warm. One of the theater-goers said that the performances of the Kaluga troupe are very sincere and warm: “It seems that in the depths of the stage someone plays a quiet, sad and simple melody on the violin.”