Vakhtangov Theatre

Vakhtangov Theatre/Государственный академический театр имени Евгения Вахтангова

Arbat St. 26/ул. Арбат, 26

Metro Smolenskaya/

At the end of 1913 a group of Moscow students created the Student Dramatical Association. Evgeny Vakhtangov, a thirty year old actor and director of The Moscow Art Theatre, who had already made himself a reputation of the best teacher within Stanislavsky’s school, was the one who agreed to guide the steps of the studies in the new-born studio.

On the 13th of September 1920, Evgeny Vakhtangov’s studio was accepted by The Moscow Art Theatre as it’s Third studio. The premiere of “The Miracle of Saint Anthony” by Maurice Maeterlinck, which Vakhtangov had put on stage became the day of birth of the theatre.

At the beginning of 1922, Carlo Gozzi’s “Princess Turandot”, a veritable phenomenon of the 20th century, drew thunderous applause around Moscow. A sunny, cheerful performance, directed by Evgeny Vakhtangov as he neared his own death in the cold and foodless year of 1922.

Stanislavsky had highly appreciated the work of his follower. After the performance was shown, he turned to those who worked on “Princess Turandot” and said: “The Art Theatre was founded three years ago and since that time there were not so many victories like this one. You finally found what other theatres were so hardly looking for”. “Princess Turandot”, in some respect, became the school of acting for all forthcoming generations of Vakhtangov’s theatres.

“No feast – no performance”, Vakhtangov proclaimed in his famous article “The artist has to answer!”. This motto has defined the creative life of the theatre ever since.