Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
STANISLAVSKY'S METHODS
In 1898, over an 18-hour restaurant lunch, actor-director Konstantin Stanislavsky and
playwright-director Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko founded the
Moscow Art Theatre
as the forum for method acting. The theatre is known by its Russian initials, MKhT,
short for Moskovsky Khudozhestvenny Teatr.
More than just providing another stage, the Art Theatre adopted a 'realist' ap-
proach, which stressed truthful portrayal of characters and society, teamwork by the
cast (not relying on stars) and respect for the writer. 'We declared war on all the con-
ventionalities of the theatre…in the acting, the properties, the scenery, or the inter-
pretation of the play', Stanislavsky later wrote.
This treatment of The Seagullrescued playwright Anton Chekhov from despair after
the play had flopped in St Petersburg. Uncle Vanya,Three Sistersand The Cherry
Orchardall premiered in the MKhT. Gorky's The Lower Depthswas another success.
In short, the theatre revolutionised Russian drama.
Method acting's influence in Western theatre has been enormous. In the USA Stan-
islavsky's theories are, and have been, the primary source of study for many actors,
including such greats as Stella Adler, Marlon Brando, Sanford Meisner, Lee Strasberg,
Harold Clurman and Gregory Peck.
MKhT, now technically called the Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre, still stages regular
performances of Chekhov's work, among other plays.
SHOPPING
DESIGNER GOODS
DEPST
10am-10pm)
This is the ultimate place to shop for Russian designer items - from clothes to furniture, and
jewellery to cutlery. The shop occupies pretty much the entire underground floor of Tsvet-
noy shopping centre, which has a few other trappings, including a nice food court on the top
floor.
SOUVENIRS
PODARKI VMESTE S VOROVSKI
This sweet little boutique houses a cooperative of four designer gift producers. The rather
cramped space is filled with hundreds of useful and useless (but pretty) items, including
