The Russian Army Theater in Moscow is a unique academic theater institution under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Defense and has no analogues in the global “theater space”. This refers to the history and organization of the theater, as well as the enormous size of the magnificent building and stage area, which is considered the largest in Europe.
Story
The birth of the theater itself, which was called the Central Theater of the Red Army, dates back to 1929, when the very first performance was staged, dedicated to the military conflict in Manchuria on the border with China.
And only in 1934 did they begin to erect a building, the construction of which was completed 6 years later - in 1940. Based on the results of the competition, a project developed by the chief architect of Moscow Karo Alabyan in collaboration with V.N. was chosen. Simbirtsev.
The majestic, three-tier, compositionally complex building in the shape of a five-pointed star is considered a monumental architectural masterpiece of the “Stalians” style - the “Stalinist Empire”, which combined elements of classicism, baroque, Napoleonic empire and neo-Gothic. The Theater building has ten floors. Six of them occupy the Great Hall for 1900 seats and the Small Hall for 400 spectators.
The unique feature of the Theater is the scale of the stage size and the power of the stage mechanisms, the designs of which, including the complex lifting and turning structures of twelve platforms, were developed by engineer Ivan Maltsin. Thanks to the commissioning of such serious design developments, the stage area can be transformed into any complex spaces. It became possible to implement the plans of theater artists for the scenographic design of performances with the reproduction of mass battles, medieval interiors and mountain landscapes. The unique scene made it possible to create a world of reality with the participation of cars, tanks, military units and cavalry.
The decoration and fresco painting of the theater was carried out by the most talented painters, monumentalists and graphic artists: Alexander Deineka, Lev Bruni, Alexander Gerasimov, Ilya Feinberg, Vladimir Favorsky with his sons, Sokolov-Skalya. Lamps and interior items were made to special order.
In 1951, the theater venue was renamed the Central Theater of the Soviet Army, which in 1975 received the title of academic. In 1993, the famous theater became the Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army.
Productions and team
The theater's debut repertoire consisted mainly of patriotic plays by brilliant writers and playwrights - Konstantin Simonov, Viktor Astafiev, Yuri Bondarev, Vasily Bykov, Victor Grossman, and later Bulat Okudzhava and Vladimir Motyl.
The play “A Long Time Ago” by Alexander Gladkov was staged most often (more than 1200 times) in the history of the theater, on the basis of which Eldar Ryazanov made the famous film “The Hussar Ballad”.
Gradually the repertoire expanded to include classical works of world drama. During its operation, the theater staged numerous performances that earned the love of the audience and prestigious awards. Musical concerts, 3-D musicals, performances - dramas, tragedies and comedies, musicals for children and adults, solo concerts, creative evenings, children's festivals are held on two stages.
Among the performances are famous plays by Alexander Ostrovsky, Chekhov, Alexei Tolstoy, European classics - Shakespeare, Goldoni, Lope de Vega, works by Bulgakov, Jean Sarman, Bronislav Nusic, James Goldman, comedies by Eduardo De Filippo, grotesque realism by Yuri Polyakov, dramas by Alexei Arbuzov.
The Army Theater is a team of talented and multifaceted artists. At first, the stage was the place where the best graduates of theater schools and young actors completed their military service. Later, the leading actors of the Russian Army Theater were Vladimir Zeldin, Nina Sazonova, Fyodor Chenkhankov, Larisa Golubkina, Lyudmila Chursina, Evgeny Steblov, Lyudmila Kasatkina, Boris Plotnikov, and other stage and film stars. Alexander Domogarov, Yuri Komissarov, Olga Kabo worked here.
Today, both experienced artists and actors of the younger generation adorn the theater stage with their creativity. Talented directors strive to update the repertoire, make creative changes to productions, and delight the viewer with interesting new products. This is where amateurs and experts come to experience the highest professionalism of the Russian theater school, known throughout the world.
Video from Moscow 24 TV channel about the Russian Army Theater:
Guide to Architectural Styles
The best muralists took part in the design of the theater: the frescoes of the acoustic ceiling were painted by Lev Bruni, the reinforced concrete curtain-portal was made according to the sketches of Vladimir Favorsky, the lampshades over the buffets in the amphitheater were created by Alexander Deineka and Ilya Feinberg, the picturesque panels of Pavel Sokolov-Skal and Alexander Gerasimov decorated the front doors marble stairs. Furniture, lampshades and chandeliers were made to special orders, and the columns around the building have a star-shaped cross-section.
Moscow was decorated with a new wonderful structure: the Central Theater of the Red Army was built. The grandiose, monumental theater building rises on Place de la Commune, one of the most spacious squares in the capital. It pleases the eye with its wonderful architectural appearance, harmonious harmony of forms, unusual volumes, and height. In addition to its main purpose - to be the center of theatrical culture of the Red Army, the theater should also serve as a great architectural monument to the heroic army of the country of socialism, a monument that will exist for many, many centuries. Therefore, the theater building was given the shape of a five-pointed Red Army star in its plan. This emblem is the main, leading motif in the entire architecture of the building.
But the shape of the building played a cruel joke on it: during the Great Patriotic War, German pilots used the Soviet Army Theater as a landmark, because 4 of its rays pointed to the Moscow railway stations, and the fifth to. Therefore, the architects were almost accused of treason, and the building was disguised: villages, churches, and groves appeared on the site of the theater.
The Theater of the Red (since 1951 - Soviet, since 1993 - Russian) Army has the largest stage in Europe.
The building occupies 10 floors on the surface (of which 6 are the Large Stage with 1,520 seats, 2 floors are the Small Stage with 450 seats) and 10 underground floors. The theater stage is adapted to show massive battle scenes with the participation of real tanks.
The stage mechanics were designed by engineer Ivan Maltsin. It works almost without repair even now: 2 huge circles rotate, 12 lifting platforms can turn the stage from a stadium into a mountain landscape.
TSATRA is a departmental theater of the Russian Army, and therefore many famous actors “did their military service” on its stage. And instead of the theater director, there is a boss. There are military barracks here, and halls with strange names: “Cabbage”, where sauerkraut was kept during the war, “zoo”, where all sorts of artificial horses are kept. At the same time, the TsATRA troupe is considered one of the best in Moscow. Also in the theater building are held festive events of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and films are shot. For example, an episode of the film “Kin-Dza-Dza” was filmed here.
They say that......the building of the Russian Army Theater was not completed: they planned to place a statue of a Red Army soldier on the top tower, a sculpture of October above the central pediment, and the five corners of the building were to be decorated with statues of various branches of the military and fountains. It was planned to arrange a summer garden on the roof for spectators to walk around during intermission. In this designed form, the CATRA building appeared on the bas-relief of the Northern River Station.
...Faina Ranevskaya left the theater with the words: “I don’t play at airfields.”
...from the building of the Russian Army Theater in
In the history of theaters in our capital, the Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army occupies one of the leading places. The building that the theater occupies is a masterpiece of architecture that no longer exists anywhere. This is the largest stage area in Europe. The theater has Large and Small halls with a total capacity of almost 2000 seats. The history of the theater itself began in 1930 with the Red Army Theater. In 1951, the theater was renamed the Theater of the Soviet Army, and only in 1993 the Theater of the Russian Army.
From the very first years of its activity and today, the theater is famous for the star cast of its troupe. Previously, L. Fetisova, L. Dobrzhanskaya, F. Ranevskaya, M. Mayorov, M. Pertsovsky, V. Pestovsky shone here. Today, the theater troupe includes famous Moscow actors L. Golubkina, F. Chekhankov, E. Anisimova, G. Kozhakina, V. Zeldin, A. Rudenko, L. Kasatkina, M. Shmaevich and many other beloved and talented actors.
The Russian Army Theater was also distinguished by its special approach to stage productions - its high artistic level. The theater was also directed by A.D. Popov, and A.A. Popov. On the stage of the theater you can see productions on military themes and modern plays, performances based on Russian and European classics.
The most memorable productions in the theater were “The Lady of the Camellias” by A. Dumas, “Trees Die Standing” by A. Cason, “The Inventive Lover” by Lope de Vega, “Much Ado About Nothing” by Shakespeare, “On a Lively Place” by A.N. Ostrovsky, “At the Bottom” by M. Gorky, “Heart on a Stone” by A.N. Ostrovsky, “The Miser” by Moliere.
The Russian Army Theater was awarded the significant Crystal Turandot award, and also took part in the World Theater Olympiad and the Czech Theater Festival. The theater showed its productions in many army units and garrisons. Today the theater's repertoire includes 19 performances. KVN games are also held on the theater stage.
For more than ten years, the theater has had a children's studio that prepares young artists for performances on the big stage and for film projects.
Buy tickets at Russian Army Theater it was quite difficult in Soviet times, due to the fact that many guests of the capital and Muscovites tried to get to the performances. The Russian Army Theater is a harmonious interweaving of classics with drama, excellent acting. By allowing yourself to buy tickets to the Russian Army Theater, you can feel all the grace and skill of the actors!
In the history of world stage culture, the Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army occupies a unique place. Created in 1930, the theater has become a shining example of Russian stage art, as well as an initiator of projects on an international scale.
More than 70 years of its existence are decades of work on the stage by outstanding personalities, true devotees of the theatrical business. The theater troupe featured such stellar names as Faina Ranevskaya and Lyubov Dobrzhanskaya, Viktor Pestovsky and Mark Pertsovsky, Mikhail Mayorov and Nikolai Konovalov, Lyudmila Fetisova and Nina Sazonova, as well as People's Artists of the USSR Lyudmila Kasatkina, Lyudmila Chursina, Vladimir Zeldin, People's Artists of Russia Olga Bogdanova, Larisa Golubkina, Alexander Dick, Yuri Komissarov, Gennady Krynkin, Alexander Mikhailushkin, Nikolai Pastukhov, Alexander Petrov, Alina Pokrovskaya, Vladimir Soshalsky, Fyodor Chekhankov.
In the 1930s, the Red Army Theater (as it was called at that time) was headed by Vladimir Meskheteli. It was he who managed to attract Yuri Aleksandrovich Zavadsky, one of the best directors of that time, to the artistic direction of the theater. Since then, the Theater of the Red (since 1951 - Soviet, since 1993 - Russian) Army has invariably surprised all fans of theatrical art with the high artistic level of its stage productions. From 1935 to 1958, the artistic director of the theater was Alexey Dmitrievich Popov, an outstanding Russian director, theater theorist and teacher. And in 1963, director and teacher, People's Artist of the USSR Andrei Alekseevich Popov took control of the theater.
Since the late 80s, the main director of the theater has been People's Artist of Russia Boris Afanasyevich Morozov. Student A.A. Popova, Boris Afanasyevich, over many years of his creative life in the theater, created many performances remarkable in their artistic strength, in which Russian and foreign classics are organically intertwined with modern drama.
The Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army has no analogues not only in Russia, but also in the world. This applies to the enormous size of the building itself and its stage, and to the organization of the theater, which is completely under the control of the Ministry of Defense.
The army has always played a big role in the life of Russian and Soviet society. Suffice it to recall the numerous sports teams of the highest level, which, under the patronage of the army, forged victories that brought prestige to the state. The Ministry of Defense’s attitude to art was also very attentive. In 1930, the Central Theater of the Red Army was created, taking place in a specially built building - a monumental masterpiece of the Stalinist Empire style. Such a building can be the envy of all other theaters in Moscow. The theater building was put into operation in 1940 and includes two halls - Big and Small. The Great Hall, which seats 1,900 spectators, is the largest theater hall in Europe.
The size of the stage in the Great Hall is also grandiose. Previously, mass, large-scale productions with the reproduction of battle scenes were very popular. If necessary, entire military units could appear on the theater stage, as well as riders or cars!
Strictly speaking, by the time of the official opening, the theater had already existed for two years. It was an organized system of propaganda brigades that performed in military camps in the Far East. After moving to Moscow, the theater immediately began to gain popularity. At first, the theater's repertoire consisted mainly of patriotic plays. The posters were full of the following names: “First Cavalry”, “Commander Suvorov”, “Front”, “Stalingraders”. The most famous performance of the theater in its entire history is “A Long Time Ago” by Alexander Gladkov, which served as the basis for the film “The Hussar Ballad”. This performance is more than 1200 times higher!
The Theater of the Russian (until 1993 - Soviet) Army has always been famous for its troupe. In Soviet times, the issue of staffing was resolved simply - the best young actors served as theater employees. Actresses also willingly went to work in the Soviet Army Theater - the wage conditions there were very good. At different times, theater actors included Vladimir Soshalsky, Boris Plotnikov, Evgeny Steblov, Alexander Domogarov. The leading actors of the modern theater of the Russian Army are Vladimir Zeldin, Fyodor Chenkhankov, Lyudmila Chursina, Lyudmila Kasatkina.
The theater's modern repertoire includes 19 performances, including Russian classics (works by A. Ostrovsky), European classics (Lope de Vega, Goldoni) and more modern plays. If you want to enjoy the performance of the masters and feel the grandeur of the “Soviet-style” theaters, buy tickets to the Russian Army Theater!
