Yermolova Theater: The 100-year history of a major Moscow's stage
Named in honor of a great theatrical actress
Maria Yermolova (1853–1928) doesn’t actually have any direct connection to the theater that bears her name. But, she was a legend of the Russian stage and adored by Konstantin Stanislavsky himself. Being one of the finest dramatic actresses of her time, she became the first ever ‘People's Artist of the RSFSR’ (Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic).
In 1926, several graduates of the Maly Theater’s drama studio decided to form their own troupe. They asked the actress to lend her name to the theater and she gave her blessing.
It began as a travelling theater
The founders and first directors of the theater were Elena Leshkovskaya, Sergey Aidarov and Nikolay Kostromskoy. The actors of the new studio placed at the forefront precisely what Yermolova was famous for, extreme psychological depth and a deep exploration of the character's inner world.
Initially, they had no venue of their own; the troupe performed at factories, construction sites, workers' clubs and open-air stages. They tried to find their unique repertoire, staging musical comedies, tragedies and Soviet plays about the Bolshevik Revolution and the Civil War.
In 1933, director Max Tereshkovich joined the theater and invited renowned actress and teacher Maria Knebel. Their names are associated with the theater's first real success.
Housed in a luxurious 19th-century building
The theater found its permanent home in 1946, after the troupe returned from wartime evacuation. And not just any home, but the Postnikovsky Passage, one of the most beautiful mansions on Tverskaya, Moscow's main street, not far from the legendary Moscow Art Theater.
In the 2010s, a large-scale reconstruction was carried out inside and, now, the space meets all the needs of a modern venue. A New Stage for theatrical experiments was also opened.
Soviet plays, Shakespeare & movie stars
Since the 1950s, the young venue has experienced a true flourishing. The stage successfully presented classic dramas by Alexander Ostrovsky and William Shakespeare, as well as new Soviet plays by Maxim Gorky, Mikhail Bulgakov and Aleksandr Vampilov. The Yermolova actors boldly tackled less popular material as well, such as works by Bernard Shaw, Erich Maria Remarque and Bertolt Brecht.
Over the years, the stage of the Yermolova Theater has been graced by stars of Soviet and world cinema: Georgy Vitsin, Vsevolod Yakut, Vladimir Andreyev, Natalya Arkhangelskaya, Ivan Solovyov and Lev Gallis, to name a few.
The theater is led by a world-famous movie star
In 2012, the theater saw a true rebirth, when Oleg Menshikov became artistic director. He’s a legendary stage and screen actor and himself a product of the Yermolova troupe’s alumni. He is known for movies such as ‘Pokrovsky Gate’, ‘The Barber of Siberia’, ‘East/West’, ‘The State Counsellor’ and many others. Menshikov redefined the concept and began actively bringing in young theater talent, students and graduates of acting schools.
Menshikov often gets invited celebrity actors such as Danila Kozlovsky, Ivan Yankovsky, Alexander Petrov and Kristina Asmus to perform in his productions. Meanwhile, the artistic director himself has performed several one-man shows that enjoy unwavering audience love.