Imperial Theatres Board

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IMPERIAL THEATRES BOARD, a public institution managing the Imperial Theatres. The board was established in 1786 as the Board for Shows and Music, succeeding the functions of the Committee for Shows and Music (1783-86); from 1806, it adopted the name Theatrical Board, which was changed to Imperial Theatres Board in 1842. In the late 18th century, the board's jurisdiction comprised four Imperial theatres and a single company of actors, which was divided into the Russian, French and Italian sections. In 1791, an Office in charge of current affairs was attached to the Board. The board staff included a treasury office, s production and technical department, a repertoire department, a household department, and a military unit. By 1809, the board's staff was comprised of six opera, drama and ballet companies (Russian, French, German and Italian), a maintenance staff, and musicians. From the mid-18th century to the mid-19th century, 15 theatres (both public and court theatres) in St. Petersburg and its environs came under the board's control, as did the Theatrical College. In 1803-82, the Imperial theatres owned a monopoly on all theatrical performances, allowing them to bring together the best creative resources, as well as to recruit well-known playwrights, composers, designers, directors. The Imperial Theatres Directorial Board also arranged temporary engagements for foreign private companies in St. Petersburg. After private non-repertory theatres were licensed in 1882, the Board experienced an upsurge of fresh creative resources. V.A. Telyakovsky, who was the head of the Board in 1902-17, summoned such figures as V.E. Meyerhold, F.I. Chaliapin, A.Y. Golovin, M.M. Fokine, S.V. Rachmaninov, and others for shows at Imperial Theatres. In 1826-1917, the board was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of the Imperial Court, and the director of the Imperial theatres was officially ranked among the first ranks of the court. In 1786-1917, the Imperial Theatres Board was located at 93 Ekaterininsky Canal (present-day Griboedova Canal) Embankment. In March 1917, it was reorganized into the Administration for State Theatres.

References: Арапов П. Н. Летопись русского театра. СПб., 1861; Теляковский В. А. Воспоминания, 1898-1917. Пб., 1924.

Y. N. Kruzhnov. Chaliapin Fedor Ivanovich
Fokin Mikhail Mikhailovich
Golovin Alexander Yakovlevich
Meyerhold Vsevolod Emilievich
Rachmaninov Sergey Vasilievich
Telyakovsky Vladimir Arkadievich
Griboedova Canal Embankment/Saint Petersburg, city, house 93
Theatre College
Ministry of the Imperial Court
1786