Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Theatre
Due to the language barrier, drama and comedy are less alluring prospects than music
and dance. Nonetheless, St Petersburg has a long tradition in theatre, which remains
vibrant today. Dozens of venues host local, national and international acting troupes.
Performances are almost exclusively in Russian, but the repertoire is vast, from Willi-
am Shakespeare to Anton Chekhov and everything in between.
While nearly all the drama is in Russian, there are occasional festivals in foreign
languages and some Russian productions with subtitles. However, even if you go and
see a play in Russian, the incredible 19th-century interiors and the sense of occasion
surrounding the performances make for an interesting night out, even if you only stay
for the first half (tickets are generally cheap enough to make this perfectly feasible).
To entertain your kids the good old-fashioned Russian way, take them to the circus
or to one of the many impressive puppet theatres in town.
NEED TO KNOW
Prices
Expect to pay a minimum of R500 for ballet and opera tickets - these will usu-
ally be for a seat with a restricted view in 'the gods' (the upper balconies), and
the price will rise by R250 to R500 with each floor lower you go. The very best
seats in the house at the Mariinsky will go for up to R3000, while an average
seat will go for R1800. Classical concerts will generally be cheaper than ballet
and opera, but will remain pricey if they're held in prestigious venues such as
the Shostakovich Philharmonia or the Mariinsky Concert Hall: reckon on paying
around R500 to R1000. Theatre tickets are far less expensive, starting from
around R150 to R800.
