Moscow Art Theatre

Founded in 1898, the Moscow Art Theatre (MAT) is a revolutionary institution in theatre and performance history. Today, the theatre honors its history through its emblem: a seagull in flight. This recognizes MAT’s first breakthrough production, Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull. MAT was established by Konstantin Stanislavsky and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko, two prominent figures in the Russian dramatic scene at the end of the nineteenth century. Both men were passionate about the artistic and holistic possibilities of Russian theatre and sought to reform the dramatic arts within society as a whole. This guide will explore the history of MAT and it’s lasting cultural impact across the globe.

Key Dates & Events

• 1898 - The foundation of the Moscow Art Theatre.
• 1906 - The theatre goes on a hugely successful European tour.
• 1911 - Stanislavski collaborates with Edward Gordon Craig on their influential production of Hamlet.
• 1917 - A series of public protests begin in Petrograd in March, lasting for eight days and eventually resulting in the abolition of the monarchy in Russia.
• 1917 - Russia is officially declared a republic in September.
• 1917 - The Bolsheviks seize control of Petrograd in October and take control of the Winter Palace.
• 1923 - The Moscow Art Theatre tours the USA.
• 1927 - The Moscow Art Theatre produces Vsevolod Ivanov’s play Armored Train 14-69.
• 1932 - The theatre is officially renamed the Gorky Moscow Art Theatre.
• 1987 - The theatre is split into two troupes, the Chekhov Moscow Art Theatre and the Gorky Moscow Art Theatre.

Terminology

• Civil War: A war between citizens of the same country.
• Communism: A government and economic system in which people do not own individual property.
• Method Acting: A technique of acting in which an actor aspires to complete emotional identification with a part.
• October Revolution: The second revolutionary change of government in Russia in 1917.
• Soviet Union: A country that covered much of Eurasia until it was dissolved into smaller countries in the early 1990s. Much of the Soviet Union is now Russia.