Ostrovsky Theater (Kostroma): history of creation and repertoire

The Ostrovsky Theater is considered one of the very first on the territory of Russia, which has survived and fully functions to this day. It puts foreign and domestic classical works.

Origins of origin

The State Ostrovsky Theater opened its doors to the public in 1808. Then Kostroma was a rich city in which the merchants lived. Even today you can find old houses that have been preserved since that time. They traded various utensils, and the active work of the barkers.

At this time was born in Kostroma, in the family of wealthy merchants Fedor Grigoryevich Volkov. Later he became the founder of the theater in Russia. The city has discovered a completely new art. In 1863 another theater was born in Moscow, Konstantin Stanislavsky. And in the interval between them, in 1823, Alexander Nikolayevich Ostrovsky, a playwright who showed Russia the true life of merchants, was born.

A new kind of art really liked the merchant's environment. Since the merchants were not poor people, they could support the beginnings of young talented playwrights, help the actors. Presents began to be arranged even before the Ostrovsky Theater was opened. Kostroma became the center of art. The first performances were shown during private receptions in residences and in country cottages. The serfs played in them. Over time, they were replaced by professional actors.

Early history

The first Kostroma Drama Theater was mentioned in 1808. Perhaps, it existed before, but there is no official information. The scenes were played on the territory of the modern hospital - there was built a special arena. It was first shown the play "Miller - sorcerer, matchmaker and deceiver". In this building met guests from the Imperial Moscow Theater, forced to leave their native places in 1812. Each performance they played so impressed both the spectators and the local actors themselves that a new spiral began in the history of the Kostroma stage. Famous actors of that time were Kartsov, Anisimov, Chagin, Glebov, Sergeev, and Obreskov.

New Refuges for the Melpomene Church

Soon the small building became small, and the theater was forced to look for a suitable scene in size. She was found on the Lower Debra. This street became famous for the first stone theater building. Earlier in this place was located leather factory Syromyatnikov, a merchant from the second guild. Both the actors and spectators were so used to such things in the merchant city that they were not at all surprised by the fine line of art with industry. From the building to today, nothing has survived. Only notes from past times were left with a description of the room. Eyewitnesses mentioned that it seemed from the street that only a wall was standing. It was necessary to go downstairs, then to go up to the theater. But his yard opened a beautiful view of the Volga.

In this building gave a presentation Shchepkin, who played the role of Tortsov in the play "Poverty is not a vice." In the audience were Potekhin and Pisemsky. And in 1863 became significant for the Kostroma theater. It was then that Pavlovskaya Street erected a special building for him. All the townspeople threw themselves at him. It became the crown of architectural art in Kostroma of that time. The one-story theater was more like a Greek temple, with a multitude of columns, a semicircular facade and half-rods at the porch.

Legend in Action

Local residents are still convinced that this building was overtaken by a supernatural misfortune. When it was just beginning to be built, the bricks were taken from the former Epiphany monastery, which burnt out a little earlier. Builders bought materials and were not particularly worried about superstition. In 1865 the theater burned down almost to the ground. He was reinstated in two years.

Update

Actors' troupe was recruited with the help of professional entrepreneurs. They quite often updated the whole composition. Until 1917, the theater played Neverin, Zolotarev-Belsky, Ivanov, Chaleev-Kostromskaya. On the shoulders of the entrepreneurs, the task was to select not only the actors, but also to determine the repertoire. For one theatrical season, more than ten performances could be played. Actors rarely learned the role to the end, often improvised and always waited for clues from the prompter sitting in the booth.

In 1898, actors from the Maly Theater visited the Kostroma stage, among which was the famous Sadovsky family. From 1899 to 1900, the new entrepreneur reworked the auditorium, more space was allocated for the stalls by reducing the number of boxes. But in 1900 the floor burned in the lobby.

War time

In 1914-1915 Varlamov and Davydov from St. Petersburg acted on the stage. From there also came the actor Mamont Dalsky. He stayed in Kostroma from 1915 to 1917.

The theater almost destroyed the October Revolution of 1917 . In 1918, he brought a play based on Gorky's play "At the Bottom" from Moscow. Each movement of theater-goers was recorded in the city party department. Some actors moved to St. Petersburg, some stayed and showed the best plays from a small list to choose from.

In 1923, the institution was given the name of a great playwright. From now on, it was the Kostroma Drama Theater. Ostrovsky. Plays that could be shown were necessarily coordinated with party figures.

When the Second World War began, the troupe was offered to disperse, it was planned to close the Ostrovsky Theater. During this period, Kostroma experienced a real tragedy. But the actors refused. Arriving inspectors did not expect to see the "living" theater of Ostrovsky, the performances in which they were sold out by spectators. After seeing the productions, they gave the Kostroma scene the kindness to continue the activity.

From the theater to the front went a special brigade consisting of fifteen people. They played for the soldiers Ostrovsky's play "The truth is good, but happiness is better".

In 1944, they celebrated the anniversary of the theater and awarded it the status of a regional theater. Triumph, despite the war time, was held magnificently and brightly.

After the war

From 1957 to 1958 the building was reconstructed. He was partially returned to his former appearance, but inside he made changes on the project of the architect Joseph Sheftelevich Shevelev.

In 1983, the Ostrovsky Drama Theater received the honorary Order of the Red Banner.

In 1999, it acquired the status of a state institution.

Ostrovsky Theater: repertoire

The basis for the Kostroma stage was the plays of the playwright of Ostrovsky, a playwright in the city. They were put as during the life of the writer, and they still play to this day. Also among the classical productions you can see the dramas of William Shakespeare, Alexander Pushkin, Leo Tolstoy, Moliere, Bernard Shaw, John Patrick, Jiri Gubach, Alejandro Cason and others. Together with the long-known works are shown and the adaptation of young writers.

The Ostrovsky Theater often invites guests from other cities. Actors from the capital often bring original performances. In addition, the institution is the owner of dozens of various awards of international and All-Russian festivals.

The most popular plays in the repertoire:

• "Strange Mrs. Savage" - a comedy based on the novel by John Patrick.
• "Woe from Wit" by Griboyedov.
• "While she was dying" Natalia Ptushkina.
• "Boris Godunov" by Pushkin.
• Modern adaptation of the play "Romeo and Juliet" by Shakespeare.
• "Thunderstorm" Ostrovsky.