Theater of the Russian Army, entrance 5. Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army

The Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army has no analogues not only in Russia, but also in the world. This applies to the enormous size of the building itself and its stage, and to the organization of the theater, which is completely under the control of the Ministry of Defense.

The army has always played a big role in the life of Russian and Soviet society. Suffice it to recall the numerous sports teams of the highest level, which, under the patronage of the army, forged victories that brought prestige to the state. The Ministry of Defense’s attitude to art was also very attentive. In 1930, the Central Theater of the Red Army was created, taking place in a specially built building - a monumental masterpiece of the Stalinist Empire style. Such a building can be the envy of all other theaters in Moscow. The theater building was put into operation in 1940 and includes two halls - Big and Small. The Great Hall, which seats 1,900 spectators, is the largest theater hall in Europe.

The size of the stage in the Great Hall is also grandiose. Previously, mass, large-scale productions with the reproduction of battle scenes were very popular. If necessary, entire military units could appear on the theater stage, as well as riders or cars!

Strictly speaking, by the time of the official opening, the theater had already existed for two years. It was an organized system of propaganda brigades that performed in military camps in the Far East. After moving to Moscow, the theater immediately began to gain popularity. At first, the theater's repertoire consisted mainly of patriotic plays. The posters were full of the following names: “First Cavalry”, “Commander Suvorov”, “Front”, “Stalingraders”. The most famous performance of the theater in its entire history is “A Long Time Ago” by Alexander Gladkov, which served as the basis for the film “The Hussar Ballad”. This performance is more than 1200 times higher!

The Theater of the Russian (until 1993 - Soviet) Army has always been famous for its troupe. In Soviet times, the issue of staffing was resolved simply - the best young actors served as theater employees. Actresses also willingly went to work in the Soviet Army Theater - the wage conditions there were very good. At different times, theater actors included Vladimir Soshalsky, Boris Plotnikov, Evgeny Steblov, Alexander Domogarov. The leading actors of the modern theater of the Russian Army are Vladimir Zeldin, Fyodor Chenkhankov, Lyudmila Chursina, Lyudmila Kasatkina.

The theater's modern repertoire includes 19 performances, including Russian classics (works by A. Ostrovsky), European classics (Lope de Vega, Goldoni) and more modern plays. If you want to enjoy the performance of the masters and feel the grandeur of the “Soviet-style” theaters, buy tickets to the Russian Army Theater!

Suvorovskaya sq., 2
1934-1940, architect. K. Alabyan and V. Simbirtsev

There is a wonderful picture in the magazine “Technology of Youth” (1940. No. 2) - the Central Theater of the Red Army from the inside:

I especially liked the tank entrance.
The text commentary explains:
“The works of the greatest masters of world drama and plays by Soviet playwrights will be heard in full voice in the theater.
The height of the stage box, counting from the stage floor to the grate, from where the decorations suspended on cables descend, is 34 meters. A large, eight-story building could easily fit in such a box.
There are spacious side rooms on both sides of the stage. The area of each of them is 350 square meters. These are the so-called pockets. They are used to prepare three-dimensional decorations. Here you can prepare a “battleship”, “armored train”, etc. for going on stage. The back stage can also be used for the same purpose. Thus, it is possible to prepare design for three different actions at once. And in the corner rooms located between the pockets and the back stage, you can store the design for 3-4 performances of the current repertoire."
The Soviet Army Theater is one of the characteristic monuments of Stalinist architecture.

Some art critics and historians consider this building to be iconic, seeing it as a departure from the “style of the 1930s.” and the beginning of the Stalinist Empire style. In any case, the idea was grandiose, carried out, moreover, by far from the last architects in the hierarchy of that time (deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, academician of architecture K.S. Alabyan, who was assisted by V.N. Simbnrtsev). Traditionally - as happens with iconic buildings - the construction of the theater reflected several aspects characteristic of the essentially imperial Stalinist state.
1. “The army is the eternal love of the empire, it is an instrument of conquest, it is also a model for society” (this is a phrase from an article by Evgeniy Anisimov).
Empires were created through overwhelming militarization.
It is no coincidence, writes a Soviet magazine, that “the inspirer of the entire construction project was the Red Army and its glorious commander, Marshal of the Soviet Union K.E. Voroshilov. Comrade Voroshilov personally reviewed the sketches of artistic painting, fittings, furniture and made very significant specific amendments. Nothing escaped "The attention of the People's Commissar. Throughout the entire period of construction, he tirelessly ensured that the theater was beautiful, comfortable, simple, that the theater was worthy of the Soviet people and their great Red Army."

"You involuntarily raise your eyes upward to see aviation. Over the heads of the spectators, in the expanses of the clear, blue sky, proud Stalinist falcons fly. This magnificent artistic painting of the ceiling gives a feeling of freedom, expanse. The most important artistic works - the painting of the ceiling of the large auditorium and foyer - have been completed professors of painting L. A. Bruni and V. L. Favorsky."

2. Art is a tool of propaganda.
The theater of unprecedented size was supposed to show “pictures of the glorious military past of the Russian people. Mass heroic performances will reflect the bright pages of the history, life and way of life of the Red Army, which won its fading glory in the battles for the homeland, for socialism.”
“The revolution put art at the service of the people,” is a typical mantra of the Soviet press when it comes to culture.
3. Theatricality is generally a characteristic feature of that time.
Let us recall the construction of main highways with decorative houses (the magnificent front façade and the rest unprocessed), physical education and military parades, etc.
Therefore, the new empire could not help but create its own large theater. And having created it, she made sure that it was the very best. This leads to another principle.
4. Gigantomania.
It is no coincidence that sources from the Stalin era constantly mention the competitive nature of Soviet construction: more beautiful than in the rest of the world, more beautiful than before the revolution.
"The theater stage is adapted for a wide variety of performances and productions. Its width reaches almost 40 meters, and its depth, counting from the portal, is 30 meters. But this is only the main stage area. Behind it there is an extensive back stage (backstage), which can also be used for theatrical action. If we add to this the front part of the stage (proscenum), extending beyond the boundaries of the portal, then the total depth of the entire stage will be 62 meters. In area, it significantly exceeds the auditorium. It can host a mass action with the participation of more than a thousand Here you can show on a grand scale the capture of the Winter Palace and the storming of Perekop. An infantry battalion, cavalry, or tanks can “operate” on such a stage. The theater has a special tank entrance through which these formidable combat vehicles will get onto the stage."

“In the theaters that were built by the bourgeoisie, concern for the viewer did not rise above the stalls and boxes. It was a concern for the wealthy visitor. Comfortable, soft chairs, the chic and luxury of the so-called “expensive seats” were intended for him. But about the comfort of the spectators of the balcony and especially the galleries were not very worried. There were common wooden benches, almost nothing could be seen from here, the actor’s voice was barely audible.
In the new Soviet theater, in the Central Theater of the Red Army, all seats are equally comfortable and good. Here, each spectator has twice as much space and air as in other theaters. The auditorium seats almost 2 thousand. This is a record figure for a drama theater. Despite such a large capacity, the farthest seats in the balcony are only 28 meters away from the stage."
5. The city is a sacred place with its own symbolism.
In the very center is the leader’s mausoleum, the central squares are places for ceremonies in honor of great events.
The Place de la Commune, where the theater is located, also played an important role. A whole memorial of the military glory of the Red Army was to be formed here.

“In the near future, Commune Square will be transformed, the compositional center of which is the new theater. Now to the left of it is the vast building of the Central House of the Red Army named after M. V. Frunze. On the other side of the square, to the right of the theater, the same vast building of the Central Museum will rise "Red Army. Tram traffic will go to neighboring streets and alleys. Surrounded by forest, this square will be an amazingly beautiful corner of Moscow, personifying the formidable strength and greatest culture of the Red Army, its unfading glory, which will live for centuries and reach our distant descendants."
6. The architecture of the Stalin era, of course, had its own language of symbols, which, without a doubt, included the Red Army Theater.
In fact, it became a true hymn to the Soviet five-pointed star, probably the most important symbol.
Probably everyone knows the legend that Army Commander Voroshilov traced his marshal’s ashtray with a pencil and suggested that Alabyan build a theater in a similar form.

Whether this is true or fiction, I personally don’t know. However, in addition to the fact that several tiers of the building in the plan turned out to be five-pointed stars, the columns framing them also have a star-shaped cross-section.
Inside, stars decorate the stairs, ceilings, balconies, and lamps.

What else can you add?
“The best, qualified forces of the country took part in the construction of the theater. The theater project was developed by architects, Deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, Academician of Architecture K.S. Alabyan and V.N. Simbnrtsev.
A remarkable stage device, the only one in the world, was developed by engineer P. E. Maltsin. His work was influenced by a careful study of the richest evidence of the work of the stage of the Moscow Art Academic Theater of the USSR. A. M. Gorky." [Which was built by the damned capitalists led by the Bolshevik sponsor industrialist S.T. Morozov]

“It goes without saying that the complex and varied technical equipment of the theater, as well as the lighting of the auditorium, stage, foyer and other premises require a colossal amount of electricity. The total installed power throughout the theater exceeds 4 thousand kilowatts. This means that if you turn on everything at the same time stage mechanisms, all lighting devices, then exactly such enormous power will be required, which would be enough to illuminate a large city with a population of several tens of thousands of inhabitants. The theater is equipped with its own electrical substation, the power of which is 2400 kilowatts. More than 10 thousand are installed throughout the building. light points and about 50 kilometers of multi-core cable were laid. If all these cores, all the electrical and telephone wires were pulled into one line, it would stretch from Moscow to Kiev, a distance of 800 kilometers."

“Above the large auditorium there is a concert hall with a capacity of almost 500 seats. The Red Banner Song and Dance Ensemble and the best artistic forces of the capital will perform here. Ordinary theater performances can also take place here. In addition, this hall will serve as a rehearsal room for the theater, In this respect it is of great convenience, because the stage here is as wide as the one below.
Above the concert hall there is a spacious art workshop. Large picturesque decorations are being prepared here."

In addition, the theater was never fully realized as planned - the war probably got in the way:
“The architectural design of the theater has not yet been fully completed. A giant figure of a Red Army soldier has yet to be erected on the upper tower of the building. A grandiose sculpture “October” must also be placed above the central pediment of the theater. The five upper corners of the building will be decorated with sculptures that depict various branches of the Red Army troops, in Powerful fountains will be installed in the lower corners."

“Moscow has been decorated with a new wonderful building: the Central Theater of the Red Army was built. The grandiose, monumental building of the theater rises on Commune Square, one of the most spacious squares in the capital. It pleases the eye with its wonderful architectural appearance, harmonious harmony of forms, unusual volumes, height. In addition to its main purpose - to be the center of theatrical culture of the Red Army, the theater should also serve as a great architectural monument to the heroic army of the country of socialism, a monument that will exist for many, many centuries. Therefore, the theater building is given the shape of a five-pointed Red Army star in its plan. This emblem is the main, leading motif in the entire architecture of the building." - magazine "Technology for Youth" 1940

We could not pass by the building, which, according to some historians, is a landmark in Soviet architecture (the beginning of the Stalinist Empire style). And one summer night they tried to get inside unnoticed. Knowing that the theater belongs to the Ministry of Defense and military conscription is carried out there, we assumed that a few hours after lights out everyone would be in the arms of Morpheus.

Our guess turned out to be correct.

01. The Red Army Theater begins its history in 1929. This year, on the initiative of the Political Directorate of the Workers' and Peasants' Red Army (PU of the Red Army), a theater was formed from several propaganda brigades to serve the Red Army troops and their commanders. On February 6, 1930, the first review performance "K.V.Zh.D." (director - V. Fedorov, script S. Alimov) dedicated Armed conflict between China and the Soviet Union in 1929 over the southern branch of the Trans-Siberian Railway. Initially, this section of the road was built by agreement with China, under the Russian Empire, but after the October Revolution (1917), it was nationalized by the Harbin Council of Workers' and Soldiers' Deputies. Two weeks later, Chinese troops explained that this was not necessary and dispersed the Harbin Council. In 1924, the government of the USSR reached an agreement with China and the road was transferred to the management of the Soviet side. But in 1929, China captured the Chinese Eastern Railway. Now the Red Army has to clearly explain to the Chinese that there is no need to do this, and in two and a half months it arranges a complete defeat of the Chinese troops and restores control over the road. In 1932, Japanese troops captured Harbin and annexed it to the puppet state of Manchukuo, formed in the same year. In light of these events, the Soviet government, after months of negotiations, sells the Chinese Eastern Railway to the government of Manchukuo. After 13 years, the Red Army erased the puppet state of Manchukuo from history and took the road back, and in 1952, as a sign of goodwill, the USSR donated it to China free of charge. This date is considered the theater's birthday. Before the appearance of a separate building, the theater performed its performances in the Red Banner Hall of the House of the Red Army (Now the Cultural Center of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation) and often toured Red Army units and garrisons.

02. In the 30s, the USSR began the uncontrolled demolition of architectural monuments, which, according to the party, symbolized the tsarist power. Instead of old symbols, new ones were required - demonstrating the values of a young and ambitious state. Architects of that time were characterized by the search for a new, special “proletarian” style. The emphasis was on continuity from classicism with clarity and simplicity of forms, but without abstract abstraction, from baroque - an organic sense of the materiality of the world, but without exaltation and hypertrophy. In 1932, the new style received the approval of the party and the term socialist realism was voiced for the first time.

03. Under the influence of a new trend in architecture, deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR, academician of architecture Alabyan Karo Semenovich (1897 - 1959). Soviet architect. Chief Architect of Moscow. In 1929, he was among the founders of the All-Russian Society of Proletarian Architects (VOPRA), which considered its goal to promote “new proletarian architecture.” In addition to the Red Army Theater K.S. Alabyan is also known for other works: the pavilion of the Armenian SSR at the All-Russian Exhibition Center, the ground lobby of the Krasnopresnenskaya metro station, the Sochi Marine Station, the railway station building in Voronezh, planning the residential district of Khimki - Khovrino, participated in the development of the Master Plan for the reconstruction of Moscow. He was a laureate of the USSR State Prize (1941), a laureate of the Lenin Prize (1951), awarded two orders (Order of the Badge of Honor, Order of the Red Banner of Labor), and received the Grand Prix at the International Exhibition of Arts and Technology in Paris. On January 5, 1959, Karo Semenovich dies of lung cancer. A street in Moscow (Alabyan St.) and a street in Yerevan (Alabyan St.) were named in his honor. and architect Vasily Nikolaevich Simbirtsev (1901-1982). Soviet architect. Chief architect of Stalingrad (now Volgograd). One of the organizers of the All-Russian Society of Proletarian Architects (VOPRA). In addition to his work on the Central Theater of the Red Army, he is also famous for other projects: the pavilion of the Byelorussian SSR, residential buildings on Krasnoselskaya Street and Leningradskoye Shosse, Prombank on Tverskaya Street. He was involved in the restoration of Stalingrad after the war. He was awarded the Order of the Red Banner of Labor and the Stalin Prize, 2nd degree. On October 19, 1982, Vasily Nikolaevich dies in Moscow. A street in Volgograd (street named after Simbirtsev) is named in his honor. developed a project for the Central Theater of the Red Army.

04. The architects were given the task of creating a building-monument that embodies the power of the Red Army. Taking into account the fact that the specificity of theater buildings with a deep stage already had a spatial composition worked out over centuries, unfolding along the longitudinal axis of symmetry (entrance, lobby, foyer with sidelines, auditorium, stage box). It was very difficult to create a new three-dimensional form that the viewer would associate with the Red Army.

05. Since socialist realism required simplicity and clarity of forms and no abstract perception, the figure of a five-pointed star was chosen as the basis, so that even the birds understood that this was not just any theater, but a theater of the Red Army. There are a huge number of stars in the theater, even the columns have a star-shaped cross-section.

06. It was impossible to solve the assigned tasks without losses. The Central Theater of the Red Army has worse acoustics, an oversized foyer and halls, a number of rooms not included in the program and several extra stairs. All this led to a significant increase in the building's cubic capacity.

07. Without exaggeration, the whole country was involved in the construction of the theater "About 40 different factories of the Soviet Union carried out orders for this grandiose structure. The Kramatorsk plant named after Stalin manufactured heavy truss structures for the stage; the Leningrad plant "Electrosila" gave the theater motors; the Kharkov Electromechanical Plant - complex electrical equipment; the Moscow plant "Metro" made external fittings, metal hangers, marble works; Malo-Vishera glass factory made colored glass and all the artistic glass fittings."- magazine "Technology for Youth".

08. Probably the most spectacular place in the theater is the large hall, designed for 1520 seats. This is the most spacious drama theater hall in the world. When it was designed, special care was taken to ensure that all seats were equally comfortable, emphasizing equality between classes. “In the theaters that were built by the bourgeoisie, concern for the spectator did not rise above the stalls and boxes. It was concern for the wealthy visitor. Comfortable, soft chairs, the chic and luxury of the so-called “expensive seats” were intended for him. But about the comfort of the spectators of the balcony and especially the galleries were not very worried. There were common wooden benches, from here almost nothing was visible, the voice of the actor was barely audible. The revolution put art at the service of the people. And in the new Soviet theater of the Red Army, all seats are equally comfortable and good." They even solved the problem of the seats slamming by attaching them to a hinge so that they rotate silently.

09. The stage of the large hall is also not small, it is considered the largest not only in the Russian Federation, but also in Europe. Dimensions are not the only thing the theater can be proud of. Technical devices and its mechanisms designed by engineer I.E. Maltsin, could change the smooth floor of the stage, making it possible to create any relief on it. The stage consists of three main parts: a large rotating drum with a diameter of 26 meters, inside it there is a snare drum half the size and a stationary part. Both drums can rotate around their axis independently of each other. In addition to rotating disks, so-called tables are installed on the stage, which can rise to a height of 2.5 meters and drop to a depth of two meters. There are 19 tables in total, 10 on the large disk, 3 on the small disk, and 3 on each side in the fixed part. With the help of these tables, it was possible to create a giant amphitheater for large conventions. For such cases, special shields were provided to cover the orchestra pit, thereby combining the auditorium with the stage, which increased the capacity of the room to almost 4 thousand people.

10. In the diagram above, behind the stage, a point that is unusual for theaters is striking - a tank entrance. According to the architects' ideas, it was planned that real military equipment could be used in theatrical productions. I don’t know if this is true or fiction, but they told me that once a tank drove into the theater. The stage floor couldn't support him and he fell through. By the way, there was a place for the tank to fall, there were three technical floors under the stage.

The photograph shows a small rotating drum with a diameter of 13 meters.

11. Going down under the stage, you can see the design of a large rotating drum. Its height is 9.5 meters. The bottom of the drum consists of two powerful, mutually intersecting beams, on which running wheels are mounted. With these wheels it rests in a circle on a circular rail track along which the drum rotates.

Metal snare drum truss under stage.

12. In order for the device to work, there is an engine room with electric motors at the lowest level. Energy to the electric motors is supplied from the outside, which caused certain difficulties during construction. It was impossible to simply run wires and cables to the drums, since when they rotated, they would simply break. The solution to the problem was to use ring current collectors. But the factories that the engineers contacted did not dare to take on such a complex and urgent order - there were only two months left before the opening. The Komsomol of the Dzerzhinsky district, on whose territory the theater was built, came to the rescue. Having contacted the Komsomol members of the Moscow Dynamo plant named after Kirov (now this plant is in an abandoned state), they asked them to fulfill the order. Together with the chief engineer of the plant, within a month, drawings were prepared and two pantographs were manufactured, for the large and small drums. The enthusiasm and professionalism of Soviet engineers is admirable, because before this, no one had made such pantographs and they were completely unique from a design point of view. The necessary products were manufactured before the contract was concluded between the plant and the construction organization.

One of the snare drum's electric motors.

13. Electric motors, lighting (over 10,000 light points were located throughout the theater in the 40s) and various equipment required large amounts of electricity. Therefore, the theater has its own electrical substation. At the time of opening, about 50 kilometers of multi-core cable were stretched across the entire theater. “If all these wires, all the electrical and telephone wires were pulled into one line, it would stretch from Moscow to Kyiv, a distance of 800 kilometers.” In the 21st century, the theater underwent a large-scale reconstruction to update electrical equipment. Over 6 months of work, over 300 kilometers of cable were laid to connect stage lighting, electroacoustics and video projection equipment.

14. Marshal of the Soviet Union K. E. Voroshilov played an important role in the creation of the theater. With his direct participation, the main issues arising during construction were resolved. He also reviewed and made amendments to the sketches of artistic painting, and monitored the selection of furniture and interior items. There is a legend that the marshal had something to do with the appearance of the theater. At a meeting with the architect K.S. With Alabyan, he outlined his ashtray in the shape of a star with a pencil and suggested building it that way.

15. While in the large hall, it is impossible not to pay attention to the painting of the ceiling. It was made by painting professors L.A. Bruni and V.L. Favorsky. Here's how they wrote about it in the magazine Youth Technology from 1940: “You involuntarily raise your eyes upward to see aviation. Over the heads of the spectators, in the expanses of a clear, blue sky, proud Stalinist falcons fly. This magnificent artistic painting of the ceiling gives a feeling of freedom, expanse. "

16. A few words about the theater’s repertoire.

17. Over its history, the Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army (last name, the theater was renamed several times) created more than 300 performances.

18. The productions were not only of a military-patriotic orientation ("Front" by A.E. Korneichuk, "Stalingraders" by Yu.P. Chepurin, "The Dawns Here Are Quiet" by B.L. Vasiliev, etc.). Classic performances by William Shakespeare ("A Midsummer Night's Dream", "The Taming of the Shrew", "Macbeth", "Much Ado About Nothing", "Hamlet", "Othello") and performances of Russian classics ("The Bourgeoisie", "At the Demise") were also shown. " - M. Gorky, "The Inspector General" - N. Gogol, "The Heart is not a Stone" - A. Ostrovsky, "Uncle Vanya", "The Seagull" - A. Chekhov and others). In the large hall of the Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army (CATRA), games of the major leagues of KVN are also held.

19. Among the productions there are also long-lived performances: “The Dance Teacher” by Lope de Vega, staged in 1946, was performed more than 1900 times, the 1942 premiere of “A Long Time Ago” by Alexander Gladkov - about 1200 times. They can be seen in CATRA even now.

20. In addition to performances, all festive events of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation are held on the basis of the theater, anniversaries of the branches and branches of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, the Main and Central Directorates of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation are celebrated. The good tradition of military-patriotic education of youth has not been forgotten.

21. Since the founding of the theater, in Soviet times, the troupe has constantly toured military units and garrisons. Now CATRA artists also do not sit in their building, but annually (more than 20 trips) give concerts and perform performances in various military districts .

22. "The CATRA staff consists of more than three hundred people, including more than 130 people of the creative staff, among whom: People's Artists of the USSR V.M. Zeldin, L.A. Chursina, 13 People's Artists of the Russian Federation, 22 Honored Artists of the Russian Federation and 6 Honored Workers culture of the Russian Federation. A number of artists have been awarded State Prizes, orders and medals of our state. The theater employs about 30 veterans of the Great Patriotic War."- from the official website of CATRA.

23. For creative youth of military age, there is an opportunity to serve in the theater.

24. During a short summer night, we did not manage to go around the entire theater. But we managed to visit, in addition to the large hall, an art workshop, which is located above the large and small halls.

25. Large picturesque decorations are being prepared in it. There are special markings on the floor to make it easier to work with the canvases, and walkways are installed under the ceiling so that you can watch from above the process of preparing the scenery and make changes. When the decoration is ready, it is rolled up and passed through the hatch under the grate flooring, where it is lowered down using blocks.

26. There is one more purpose of the premises: formation and drill training for the “theater troops” undergoing service take place here.

27. Despite the fact that the building appears to be complete, a number of architectural elements were not completed in time for the opening of the theater in 1940.

28. The figure of a giant Red Army soldier was not erected on the top tower of the building, which cannot but rejoice. The sculptural composition "October" is not installed above the central pediment of the theater. And on the five upper corners of the building there are not enough sculptures depicting various types of troops.

29. But the biggest loss, in my opinion, is the unfulfilled idea of using the roof. According to the plan, it was supposed to have a garden with flower beds and lawns, as well as a restaurant, dance floor and cinema. In winter, it was possible to set up an ice skating rink there. For visitors to the theater, on the roof, an excellent panorama would open up, because in 1940, it was the tallest building in Moscow.

Machines for raising and lowering decorations. They have been standing since the founding of the theater.

31. By the way, the idea of using roofs for leisure is not new. In the fall, I had the opportunity to visit the roof of the first skyscraper in Moscow, where a restaurant was opened in 1916, and after the revolution there was a square, a playground and much more, but more on that another time.

32. In conclusion, a few words about the small hall, which we were not able to get into due to lack of time. It is located above a large hall and has a capacity of 450 seats. The Red Banner Song and Dance Ensemble and other artists from the capital performed there. Rehearsals are also held in a small hall. I will also get here soon, but as a spectator.

That's all. A curtain.

The following materials were used to write this post.

In the history of theaters in our capital, the Central Academic Theater of the Russian Army occupies one of the leading places. The building that the theater occupies is a masterpiece of architecture that no longer exists anywhere. This is the largest stage area in Europe. The theater has Large and Small halls with a total capacity of almost 2000 seats. The history of the theater itself began in 1930 with the Red Army Theater. In 1951, the theater was renamed the Theater of the Soviet Army, and only in 1993 the Theater of the Russian Army.

From the very first years of its activity and today, the theater is famous for the star cast of its troupe. Previously, L. Fetisova, L. Dobrzhanskaya, F. Ranevskaya, M. Mayorov, M. Pertsovsky, V. Pestovsky shone here. Today, the theater troupe includes famous Moscow actors L. Golubkina, F. Chekhankov, E. Anisimova, G. Kozhakina, V. Zeldin, A. Rudenko, L. Kasatkina, M. Shmaevich and many other beloved and talented actors.

The Russian Army Theater was also distinguished by its special approach to stage productions - its high artistic level. The theater was also directed by A.D. Popov, and A.A. Popov. On the stage of the theater you can see productions on military themes and modern plays, performances based on Russian and European classics.

The most memorable productions in the theater were “The Lady of the Camellias” by A. Dumas, “Trees Die Standing” by A. Cason, “The Inventive Lover” by Lope de Vega, “Much Ado About Nothing” by Shakespeare, “On a Lively Place” by A.N. Ostrovsky, “At the Bottom” by M. Gorky, “Heart on a Stone” by A.N. Ostrovsky, “The Miser” by Moliere.

The Russian Army Theater was awarded the significant Crystal Turandot award, and also took part in the World Theater Olympiad and the Czech Theater Festival. The theater showed its productions in many army units and garrisons. Today the theater's repertoire includes 19 performances. KVN games are also held on the theater stage.

For more than ten years, the theater has had a children's studio that prepares young artists for performances on the big stage and for film projects.

Buy tickets at Russian Army Theater It was quite difficult in Soviet times, due to the fact that many guests of the capital and Muscovites tried to get to the performances. The Russian Army Theater is a harmonious interweaving of classics with drama, excellent acting. By allowing yourself to buy tickets to the Russian Army Theater, you can feel all the grace and skill of the actors!

For more than ten years, the theater has had a children's studio that prepares young artists for performances on the big stage and for film projects.