Moscow Mayor announced the completion of the restoration of the Oleg Tabakov Moscow Theater building. The first performance in the historic building on Chistye Prudy will take place on October 1.

According to the announcement, during the restoration work, the building’s structures were reinforced, all engineering systems were replaced, and modern stage equipment was installed.

It was previously reported that specialists at the theater recreated the stucco decoration, parquet flooring, and metlakh tiles. It was explained that paint layers on the ceilings during repairs in the building, which is over 100 years old, had caused the original stucco patterns to become almost indistinguishable.

The Oleg Tabakov Theater occupies the basement and first floor of a building on Chaplygina Street, constructed in 1900. Restoration work in the building has been ongoing since March 2023.

„All this talk that cinema killed theater is utter nonsense. The theater’s unimaginable privilege: a living person comes — they are offered an event that unfolds only once, before their eyes. Two actors came out, laid down a rug — and it began. 50 years ago, Mikhail Romm predicted the death of theater — from cinema. 50 years have passed — no communicating vessels between theater and cinema emerged. On the contrary, cinema still parasitically uses theater actors.“ In the photo: actors Mikhail Kazakov (left) and Oleg Tabakov, 1959
In 1957, under the roof of the Moscow Art Theater School-Studio, actor and director Oleg Efremov, who had a significant influence on Oleg Tabakov’s final professional development, created the Studio of Young Actors, which later gave rise to the ‚Sovremennik‘ Theater. As Tabakov later said, ‚Sovremennik‘ became „…confirmation of the greatness of the Moscow Art Theater… the teachings of Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko about the living actor, the living life of the human spirit.“ In the photo: actors Oleg Tabakov and Vladimir Mashkov (right) on stage during a performance
„Spectacle is not a bad word for me. Even if you are seven spans in the forehead and filled with the most significant humane ideas, but if the theatrical action is not spectacular — they won’t watch you. People will leave the auditorium, despite the high cost of tickets. First, they vote with their ruble, then — with their feet. Psychological theater is good when it is spectacular. When it is didactic — isn’t it easier to organize a room or apartment theater?“ In the photo: Oleg Tabakov (center) with colleagues

From 1957 to 1983, Oleg Tabakov was a

Oleg Tabakov Moscow Theater

The Oleg Tabakov Moscow Theater, also known as Tabakerka, is a renowned Russian theater founded in 1987 by the legendary actor and director Oleg Tabakov. It began in a small, reconstructed basement that had once been a pipe storage space, which inspired its nickname („Tabakerka“ means „snuffbox“). Under Tabakov’s leadership, it grew from an experimental studio into one of Moscow’s most prestigious and influential theaters, celebrated for its innovative productions and exceptional acting.

Chistye Prudy

Chistye Prudy, meaning „Clean Ponds,“ is a historic district and popular recreational area in central Moscow. The name originates from the 17th century when Prince Menshikov, who owned the area, ordered the cleaning of what were previously filthy swamps. Today, it is known for its scenic pond, tree-lined boulevard, and its significance in Russian literature and culture.

Chaplygina Street

Chaplygina Street is a historic thoroughfare in Moscow, Russia, named in 1960 after the Bolshevik revolutionary Viktor Chaplygin. It is historically significant as the former location of the infamous Lubyanka building, the headquarters of the KGB and its predecessor agencies. Today, the street retains a strong connection to this complex history while functioning as a central city artery.

Saratov Palace of Pioneers and Schoolchildren

The Saratov Palace of Pioneers and Schoolchildren is a prominent cultural and educational center for youth, originally established in the Soviet era. It was founded to provide extracurricular activities and foster the development of young pioneers in areas such as arts, sports, and sciences. Today, it continues to serve as a hub for children’s creative and educational pursuits.

Moscow Art Theater School-Studio

The Moscow Art Theater School-Studio is a prestigious drama school founded in 1943 by the legendary directors Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko and Konstantin Stanislavski. It was established as an official school to train actors in the Stanislavski system, the groundbreaking method of psychological realism that made its parent theater world-famous. The institution remains a direct extension of the Moscow Art Theatre’s artistic legacy and a leading center for actor training.

Sovremennik Theater

The Sovremennik Theater is a renowned Moscow drama theater founded in 1956 by a group of young Soviet actors, including Oleg Yefremov, as a response to the artistic stagnation of the era. It became celebrated for its fresh, contemporary productions and its commitment to artistic freedom and social relevance. Today, it remains one of Russia’s leading theaters, continuing its legacy of staging thought-provoking and innovative performances.

Moscow Art Theater

The Moscow Art Theatre, founded in 1898 by Konstantin Stanislavski and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko, is one of the most influential theater companies in the world. It is renowned for revolutionizing modern acting through Stanislavski’s „system,“ which emphasized psychological realism. The theater premiered major works by Anton Chekhov, such as *The Seagull*, cementing its legendary status in theatrical history.

Stanislavsky

Stanislavsky refers to Konstantin Stanislavsky, a seminal Russian theatre practitioner, rather than a place. He co-founded the Moscow Art Theatre in 1898 and developed the influential „Stanislavsky system“ of acting, which emphasized psychological realism and emotional authenticity. His methods revolutionized modern acting and remain a cornerstone of actor training worldwide.