Alexandrinsky Theatre is the oldest professional theatre in Russia. Its history goes back to 1756 when the Empress Elizabeth founded it as a court theatre for comedy and tragedy performances. A famous playwright of the time, Sumarokov, was appointed the art director of the theatre and producer of the first plays. The first actors of the just-born company were two brothers Fedor and Grigory Volkov.

The Theatre had changed its names many times before in 1991 it got its present name The Russian State Academic Pushkin Drama Theatre. Still, the former name of the Theatre, Alexandrinsky, is much more popular. The theatre got the name from the building it is housed in which, in its turn, was named by the Emperor Nicolas I after his wife, Alexandra Fyodorovna.

The building was constructed by Carlo Rossi in the Ostrovsky Square in 1828 – 1832 within his sweeping project of a whole architectural ensemble called just the way, the Rossi Ensemble. The Theatre building, like all the other projects by Rossi, was designed in the High Classicism style. The graceful loggia of its facade is decorated with six snow-white columns and crowned with a bronze chariot of Apollo, the sculpture group designed by Pimenov.

The theatre itself was opened in the just-built construction in 1832 with the ballet performance “Spanish festival”. Later such distinguished actors as Savina, Yuriev, Simonov, Asenkova, Tolubeyev, Davydov, Samoilovs, Tcherkasov starred on its stage, contributing greatly to the Theatre’s fame all over the world.

Up to these days the Theatre has kept its reputation as one of the most prestigious stages of dramatic art in Russia. They say that Pushkin and Turgenev frequented the place as spectators and that Ostrovsky and Chehov watched their plays being performed on its stage. Its modern repertoire is focused on Russian classical drama, such plays as ‘Nedorosl’’ by Fonvizin, “Boris Godunov” by Pushkin, “The Marriage” by Gogol, “Three Sisters” by Chehov. However, it includes foreign classics as well and stages such masterpieces of the world culture as “Hamlet” by Shakespeare, “Pygmalion” by Show, also plays by James, Moliere, Wild and so on. Besides, the repertoire offers many works by modern playwrights with new-sprung actors starring.