Saint Petersburg

Leningrad State Young Spectators Theatre

1922-1980

The Leningrad State Young Spectators Theatre was founded in 1922 in Petrograd in the building of the former Tenishev Commercial School. Its creation involved outstanding figures of culture: alongside its founder and first director Alexander Bryantsev, the team included Nikolai Bakhtin, Vladimir Beyer, Pyotr Petrov-Boyarinov, Pyotr Gorlov, and Elena Pashkova-Gorlova. Composer Nikolai Strelnikov made a significant contribution to the theatre's musical development, while the poet and playwright Samuil Marshak headed the literary and repertoire department for the first three years. On February 23, 1922, the premiere of the first production, "The Humpbacked Horse" based on the fairy tale by Pyotr Ershov and directed by Alexander Bryantsev, took place. This performance underwent several revivals and remained a symbol of the Young Spectators Theatre many years. Throughout its history, the theatre has presented both classical works and fairy tales, as well as contemporary plays, consistently attracting a wide audience. The theatre did not cease its activities during the war years: during the Great Patriotic War, the troupe was evacuated and performed on the stage of the Berezniki Drama Theatre in the Perm region. In 1962, the theatre moved into a newly constructed building on Pionerskaya Square, designed by architect Alexander Zhuk with the participation of Alexander Bryantsev, specifically taking into account the peculiarities of children's perception. Sadly, the founder of the theatre passed away shortly before its opening. In April 1980, the theatre was named after Alexander Bryantsev. From 1962 to 1986, the Young Spectators Theatre was directed by Zinovy Korogodsky. Under his leadership, not only were the best classical performances restored, but new plays were also created that gained immense popularity, including "Colleagues" by Vasiliy Aksyonov, "Visiting Donna Anna" by Alexander Kurgatnikov, and "Tren-Bren" by Radiy Pogodin. In 1969, for its outstanding contribution to the development of theatrical art, the Leningrad State Young Spectators Theatre was awarded the Order of Lenin. The theatre has always been renowned for its talented troupe. Over the years, such famous actors as Nikolay Cherkasov, Bruno Freyndlikh, Boris Chirkov, and Vitaly Politseymako worked here. Many renowned directors and actors began their creative paths on this stage, and the repertoire firmly established works by Samuil Marshak, Valentin Kataev, Konstantin Paustovsky, Mikhail Roshchin, and Bulat Okudzhava. Since 1986, the theatre has been led by graduates of leading theatre universities, who continue to develop its finest traditions while striving for innovation and artistic experimentation. In 2022, the theatre was awarded the Fyodor Volkov Prize by the Ministry of Culture of the Russian Federation for its contribution to the development of theatrical art. The online collection of the Bakhrushin Theatre Museum features set and costume design sketches, photographs, posters, and archival documents reflecting the history of the Leningrad State Young Spectators Theatre.