Taganka Theatre

Moscow Taganka Theatre was founded in 1964 by Yuriy Lyubimov and actors of Moscow Theatre of Drama and comedy. The first performance of the theatre was «A kind man from Sezuanne» by Brecht. Done practically without using decorations and make-up, it was approved by critics and called «innovative and not-indifferent».

The theatre’s repertoire consists of the works of Voznesenskii and other famous poets of that time. One of the most famous plays are "Falled and alive", "Pugachev", "Master and Margarita" and, certainly, "Gamlet" with Vladimir Vysotskiy in the main role.

Yuriy Lyubimov, a founder and an art leader of the Taganka theatre, created the performances which distinguished with nonstandard decisions and unusual director’s techniques. Thanks to the performances of Lyubimov, the Taganka theatre was called the “island of liberty in not free country". However the permanent conflict with the authorities resulted in the following: in 1984 Yuriy Lyubimov was deprived of citizenship and he was compelled to leave the State. Efros was appointed the main director of the theatre and performed “War has no woman’s face”, by S. Aleksievich, “The Lower Depths” by M. Gorkiy, "Misanthrope" by Moliere. After Efros had passed away, N. Gubenko was appointed a principal director of the theatre. But in 1989 Lyubimov became the first famous emigrant to whom his citizenship was given back his citizenship, and actor troupe proposed him to head the theatre again.

In 1993 a collapse inside the theatre году divided the theatre into two troupes: Taragnka theatre under the supervision of Lyubimov and the “Unity of Taganka’s actors” under the supervision of N.Gubenko, which is located in the same building.

Today Taganka theatre is one of the most popular theatres of Moscow public. The theatre’s modern repertoire includes "Master and Margarita" by Mikhail Bulgakov, "Doctor Zhivago" by Boris Pasternak, "Elektra" by Sophocles , "Adolescent" by Fedor Dostoevskii, "Faust" by Gete and many other plays.