Moscow State Estrade Theatre, Entertainment venue on Bersenevskaya Embankment, Moscow, Russia.
Moscow State Estrade Theatre occupies the House on the Embankment at 20/2 Bersenevskaya Embankment, a Stalinist building designed by Boris Iofane. Its auditorium seats 1,300 and hosts concerts, comedy and theatrical productions. The theatre reopened in October 2023 after renovation.
The theatre was founded in 1954 by Nikolai Smirnov-Sokolski and moved to its current location in 1961. Its early years saw artists rotating through the venue rather than forming a permanent company, shaping how Soviet entertainment was organized.
The theatre's name comes from the Russian word for variety stage, estrada, and its programme has centred on satire and spoken-word numbers since 1954. Comedians Yevgeny Petrosyan, Gennady Khazanov and Vladimir Vinokur built their early careers here, and Gennady Khazanov has been artistic director since 1997.
The theatre sits conveniently between Borovitskaya and Polyanka metro stations, making it accessible by public transport. Check the official website teatr-estrada.ru to see current performances and book tickets in advance.
The venue had no permanent troupe in its early decades, instead working through Moskontsert, a state arts organization that booked performers. This arrangement allowed for rotating casts and made the venue a showcase for different Soviet talents.
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