Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre
The theatre of Stanislavski and Chekhov, in Schechtel's Art Nouveau house on Kamergersky Lane.
The Moscow Art Theatre was founded in 1898 by Konstantin Stanislavski and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko, who wanted an ensemble built on rehearsal, truthful acting and a unified production style. Its early seasons established Anton Chekhov as a dramatist, beginning with The Seagull in 1898 and continuing with Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard. The seagull taken from that first success remains the theatre's emblem and appears on its curtain.
In 1902 the company moved to Kamergersky Lane, into a building of 1882 by Mikhail Chichagov that the architect Fyodor Schechtel reworked without fee. Schechtel designed the restrained facade, the lighting, the furniture and the revolving stage, and Anna Golubkina's relief The Swimmer was set above the entrance. The company divided in 1987; the Kamergersky house became the Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre and now plays on three stages, mixing classic Russian drama with new work.
Highlights
- Schechtel's 1902 Art Nouveau remodelling, inside and out
- Anna Golubkina's relief The Swimmer above the entrance
- The seagull emblem taken from the 1898 Chekhov premiere
- Three auditoriums: the Main, Small and New Stages
