Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
theatre has a reputable repertoire and is a good place to see Russian drama. It's one of
the city's grandest theatres, and its location on the Fontanka River is delightful.
THE
THEATRE
TRE
KOMISSARZHEVSKAYA THEATRE
after Vera Komissarzhevskaya, a great St Petersburg actress who gained her reputa-
tion as leading lady in Vsevolod Meyerhold performances during the late 19th cen-
tury. In the early years of the 20th century, Komissarzhevskaya founded an acting
troupe that performed in the Passage concert hall, staging plays by all of the famous
playwrights of the day, including Maxim Gorky and Anton Chekhov. Revived in the
midst of the Siege, the theatre was renamed in honour of the great actress. These days,
headed by artistic director Viktor Novikov, it is known for its modern treatment of
classic plays.
THE
THEATRE
TRE
PRIYUT KOMEDIANTA THEATRE
theatre's name means 'the actor's shelter' and it does a pretty good job of fulfilling its
role, providing refuge for some of the city's best up-and-coming directors and produ-
cers. It was founded by actor Yury Tomashevsky in the late 1980s, when the city
turned over a defunct cinema that the group still uses.
CINEMA
AVRORA
dilly Picture House, this was the city's most fashionable cinema in the early years of
Russian film, and it has retained its position pretty consistently ever since. Renamed
the more Soviet-sounding Avrora in 1932, it was here that a young Dmitry Shos-
takovich played piano accompaniment to silent movies. Today it's one of the best
cinemas in town, and most premieres (to which you can nearly always buy tickets)
take place here. Most foreign films are dubbed into Russian, though sometimes you'll
find the odd subtitled one.
CINEMA
DOM KINO
