Slonov Drama Theatre in Saratov

The Saratov State Academic Drama Theater named after I. A. Slonov is a famous cultural institution in the city of Saratov, which is also one of the oldest theaters in the Russian Federation. It was founded back in 1803.

It was this theater that the famous Russian theater director Konstantin Stanislavsky once described as a "hotbed of national culture." As early as the 1820s, traveling troupes, touring performers, and local amateurs staged productions and performances here. And already in the 1870s, such artists as A. P. Lensky, M. G. Savina, V. N. Davydov, P. A. Strepetova, K. A. Varlamov and others began their creative careers here. In 1915, Ivan Artemyevich Slonov was one of many who transferred to work at the theater, and he ended up working here for 30 years. It was this man who had a significant influence on the further development of the theater as a whole. He created outstanding images of the heroes of the new, revolutionary reality, for example, Khomutov, Godun, Koshkin and Shvandya, who reflected the history of revolutionary events.

In 1968, the theater acquired a new building. The premiere production was the play "Russian People" by Konstantin Simonov, directed by D. A. Lyadov.

In 1977, the theater received academic status.

In 1993, it was named after the great Russian actor Ivan Artemyevich Slonov, who worked there for a long time.