THEATRES

St. Petersburg theaters are a celebration of beauty, refinement and accomplished professionalism. Outstanding stage design and costumes, powerfully acted performances, and varied repertoires - this is what one can expect when visiting St. Petersburg's theaters.

MUSICAL PERFORMANCE

MARIINSKY OPERA AND BALLET HOUSE The opera and ballet house was named after Maria, the wife of Alexander the 2nd, and opened on October 2, 1860. The first performance was Glinka's, The Life for the Tsar. However, the St. Petersburg opera and ballet company appeared a long time before that. Its history goes back to 1783, when Empress Elisabeth issued a 'high decree' that a Russian opera and ballet company should be established in St. Petersburg. That was the year that was considered the first season of the Mariinsky Opera and Ballet House, although it was almost a hundred years later that the company got a building of their own. The magnificent decoration of the house mainly remained unchanged to the present day. With its snow-white sculpture, soft shining of the gilded decorations, blue seats and curtains, this opera house probably has the most lyrical air in Europe. Mariinsky Opera and Ballet House was the home of many generations of great musicians and ballet dancers. To the present day its performances work like a magnet on all opera and ballet lovers, combining perfection, high skill and inspiration.
Teatralnaya Square, 1
The ticket office is open 11 a.m. - 7 p.m.
Performances start at 11.30 a.m. and 6.30 p.m.
Metro: Sadovaya/Sennaya Ploshad
www.mariinsky.spb.ru

MUSORGSKY OPERA AND BALLET HOUSE The building of the Emperor's Mikhailovsky opera house was built in the 1830's upon the design of architect A. P. Bryullov. C. Rossi designed the facade of the building. At the moment, the opera and ballet company is famous not only in Russia, but also abroad.
Iskusstv Sq. 1
The ticket office is open11 am -- 7 pm
Performances begin at 12 am and 7 pm.
Metro: Gostiny Dvor/Nevsky Prospect

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV OPERA AND BALLET HOUSE OF THE ST. PETERSBURG CONSERVATOIRE This opera company began the Russian operatic tradition. The ballet company is also brilliant.
Teatralnaya Square, 3
The ticket office is open11 am -- 7 pm
Performances begin at 7 pm.
Metro: Sadovaya/Sennaya Ploshad

THE HERMITAGE THEATRE One of the best palace theatres in the city. Although the theatre was intended for the royal family only, it is quite capable to house bigger audiences and is a good competition of many Russian and Western theatres.
Dvortsovaya Emb. 34

ST. PETERSBURG OPERA CHAMBER MUSIC THEATRE
Marata St. 4

DRAMA THEATRES

PUSHKIN (ALEXANDRINSKY) DRAMA THEATRE The history of the theatre began on the day when Empress Elisabeth, the daughter of Peter the Great, signed the decree to found a theatre where tragedies and comedies would be performed. The name of the theatre was given by Nicholas the 1st to honor his wife Alexander. The theatre houses 1,102 spectators.
Ostrovskogo Sq. 1
The ticket office is open11 am -- 7 pm
Performances begin at 7 pm on weekdays and at 6 pm on Sat and Sun.
Metro: Gostiny Dvor

TOVSTONOGOV BIG DRAMA THEATRE St. Petersburg's leading drama theatre, unique repertoire, and a famous school of acting.
Fontanka Embankment, 65
Performances begin at 7 pm.
Metro: Gostiny Dvor

LENSOVET THEATRE
Vladimirsky Prosp. 12
Performances begin at 12 am., 2 pm and 7 pm.
Metro: Vladimirskaya/Dostoevskaya
www.lensov-theatre.spb.ru

MALY DRAMA THEATRE (THEATRE OF EUROPE)
Rubinsteina St. 18
Performances begin at 7 pm.
Metro: Vladimirskaya/Dostoevskaya

KOMISSARZHEVSKAYA DRAMA THEATRE
Italyanskaya St. 19
Performances begin at 7 pm.
Metro: Gostiny Dvor

ST. PETERSBURG STATE DRAMA THEATRE ON LITEINY
Liteyny Prosp. 51
Metro: Vladimirskaya/Dostoevskaya

MOLODEZHNY THEATRE ON THE FONTANKA
Fontanka Emb. 114
Performances begin at 7 pm.

YOUNG SPECTATORS’ THEATRE
Pionerskaya Sq. 1

BUFF THEATRE
Narodnaya St. 1

COMEDY

AKIMOV COMEDY THEATRE
Nevsky Prosp. 56
Performances begin at 11.30 am and 7 pm.
Metro: Gostiny Dvor

MUSICAL COMEDY THEATRE
Italyanskaya St. 13
Metro: Gostiny Dvor

THE COMEDIANS
Ligovsky Prosp. 44