Lensovet Theatre

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LENSOVET THEATRE (12 Vladimirsky Avenue). Founded in 1933 as the New Theatre, renamed Lensovet Theatre in 1953 (briefly called the Open Theatre in 1992-2000), and receiving Academic status in 1981. Originally opened on the premises of the former Dutch church at 20 Nevsky Prospect; in 1934-36 it had no set location; in 1936-40 it was located at 13 Rubinsteina Street; and has occupied its present building since 1945. Originally, the company, under the guidance of director I.M. Kroll, consisted mainly of variety actors and former actors from miniature theatre; in 1937, it was reinvigorated by B.M. Sushkevich's (main director in 1937-46) with students from the Leningrad Central Drama School (see Academy of Dramatic Art), in 1938 with actors from the former Realistic Theatre began to join, and later yet with graduates of I.P. Vladimirov's (main director in 1960-99; memorial plaque installed) studio at the Leningrad Institute of Theatre, Music, and Cinema. Director Sushkevich truly united the company of these actors. Their best productions include L.N. Rakhmanov's Restless Old Age, G. Hauptmann's Before Dawn, stagings of F. Schiller's plays, and N.N. Bromley's works. In 1940, the theatre company was sent for a prolonged tour to the Far East, where it worked until 1943, then to Nizhny Tagil in 1943-45, to Riga at the end of the Great Patriotic War, and returned to Leningrad in 1945. An important part of theatre's history is connected with N.P. Akimov (main director in 1951-55), who introduced a bright theatricality to its stage. The satirical staging of M.E. Saltykov-Shchedrin's Shadows (1952), A.V. Sukhovo-Kobylin's The Case (1954, both were filmed) and comic plays by contemporary authors were noted for the director's mature interpretation. The theatre's original lyrical spectacular style, which drew it to musicals and revues, was introduced by Vladimirov (with principle actor A.B. Freindlikh). Best productions include G.B. Shaw's Pygmalion, Tanya and My Poor Marat by A. N. Arbuzov, Romeo and Juliet, Taming of the Shrew by W. Shakespeare, The Threepenny Opera by B. Brecht, Warsaw Melody by L.G. Zorin, I.M. Dvoretsky's An Outside Man, Crime and Punishment based on F.M. Dostoevsky's novel, Dulcinea of El Toboso by A.M. Volodin, People and Passions based on classics of German Drama, Lefty based on N.S. Leskov's book, A.V. Vampilov's The Elder Son, and N.V. Gogol's The Gamblers. In 1974-80 the theatre opened a branch called the Molodezhny (Youth) Theatre, comprising of Vladimirov's students. The following actors performed have and continue to perform at the theatre: Y.T. Bublikov, K.V. Kurakina, V.A. Budreyko, V.A. Taskin, G.P. Korotkevich, P.P. Pankov, Z.M. Sharko, G.S. Zhzhenov, L.N. Dyachkov, V.V. Kharitonov, D.I. Barkov, L.I. Malevannaya, A.V. Petrenko, I.V. Ledogorov, A.V. Solonitsyn, L.Z. Kirakosyan, A.Y. Ravikovich, I.S. Mazurkevich, S.G. Migitsko, G.I. Nikulina, M.S. Boyarsky, L.R. Luppian, E.Y. Solovey, E.P. Baranov, M.K. Devyatkin, A.Y. Alexakhina, O.A. Levakov, V.M. Matveev, and S.V. Pismichenko. In recent years the theatre has staged plays by H. Pinter, I. Bergman, G. Buchner, S. Maugham, V.V. Nabokov, S. Beckett, J.-P. Giraudoux, T. Williams, J.B. Moliere, A. Camus, M. Kundera, L.N. Tolstoy, and N.N. Berberova (directors: V.B. Pazi, Klim - V.A. Klimenko, Y.B. Dvorkin, Y.N. Butusov, G.R. Trostyanetsky). The theatre is headed by Pazi, Honoured Worker of Arts of Russia and Kirghizia (general manager from 1996, general manager and art director from 1999). The building was constructed in the second half of the 18th century and renovated in the Classic style in 1826-28 (architect A.A. Mikhailov). The facade is adorned with an 8-columned portico, and pilasters of the Ionic order. The auditorium and the small foyer were attached in the 1840s. From the 1860s it housed the Merchants' Club (Russian Merchant Society, Clerks' Club), though various non-repertory companies and guest actors gave performances in its hall; after October 1917 it was turned into the Karl Marx Club, housing the Petrograd Free Theatre (1918-19). During the New Economic Policy, it was turned into the Vladimirsky Club, with a gambling-hall, restaurants, and other amusements. Later, it served as a club for the Children's Lives Improvement Commission. From 1935 the building housed the Theatre of Working Youth (TRAM), in 1936-39 became the home of the Lenin Komsomol Theatre (see Theatre-Festival Baltic House), and then the New Young People's Theatre named after B.W. Zon.

Reference: Ленинградский государственный академический Театр имени Ленсовета, 1933-1983: [Альбом]. Л., 1984.

A. A. Kirillov. Akimov Nikolay Pavlovich
Alexakhina Anna Yakovlevna
Arbuzov Alexsey Nikolaevich
Baranov Evgeny Pavlovich
Barkov Dmitry Ivanovich
Beckett Samuel
Berberova Nina Nikolaevna
Bergman Hjalmar
Boyarsky Mikhail Sergeevich
Brecht Bertolt
Bromley Nadezhda Nikolaevna
Bublikov Yury T.
Buchner Georg
Budreyko V.A.
Butusov Yury Nikolaevich
Camus Albert
Devyatkin Mikhail Konstantinovich
Dostoevsky Fedor Mikhailovich
Dvoretsky Ignaty Moiseevich
Dvorkin Yu.B.
Dyachkov Leonid Nikolaevich
Freindlikh Alisa Brunovna
Giraudoux Jean
Gogol Nikolay Vasilievich
Hauptmann Gerhard
Kirakosyan Leila Z.
Klimenko Vladimir Alexeevich
Korotkevich Galina Petrovna
Kroll Isaak M.
Kundera Milan
Kurakina Xenia Vladimirovna
Ledogorov Igor Vladimirovich
Leskov Nikolay Semenovich
Levakov Oleg Alexandrovich
Luppian Larisa Reginaldovna
Malevannaya Larisa Ivanovna
Marx Karl
Matveev Vladimir Mikhailovich
Maugham William Somerset
Mazurkevich Irina Stepanovna
Migitsko Sergey Grigorievich
Mikhaylov Alexander Alexeevich
Moliere Jean-Baptiste
Nabokov Vladimir Vladimirovich
Nikulina Galina I.
Pankov Pavel Petrovich
Pazi Vladislav Borisovich
Petrenko Alexey Vasilievich
Pinter Harold
Pismichenko Svetlana Viktorovna
Rakhmanov Leonid Nikolaevich
Ravikovich Anatoly Yurievich
Saltykov-Shchedrin (real name Saltykov) Mikhail Evgrafovich
Schiller Friedrich
Shakespeare William
Sharko Zinaida Maximovna
Shaw George Bernard
Solonitsyn Anatoly (Otto) Alexeevich
Solovey Elena Yakovlevna
Sukhovo-Kobylin Alexander Vasilievich
Sushkevich Boris Mikhailovich
Taskin Vladimir A.
Tolstoy Lev Nikolaevich, Count
Trostyanetsky Gennady Rafailovich
Vampilov Alexander Valentinovich
Vladimirov Igor Petrovich
Volodin Alexander Moiseevich
Williams Tennessee
Zhzhenov Georgy Stepanovich
Zon Boris Wulfovich
Zorin Leonid Genrikhovich
Nevsky prospect/Saint Petersburg, city, house 20
Rubinsteina St./Saint Petersburg, city, house 13
Vladimirsky Ave/Saint Petersburg, city, house 12
Ленинградский государственный академический Театр имени Ленсовета, 1933-1983: [Альбом]. Л., 1984 Dutch Reformed Church
Theatre Art Academy
1933