The Hermitage Theatre is the oldest theatre building in St. Petersburg. In November 1985 it has celebrated the 200th anniversary.
In 1711 the erection of the stone building for the Second Winter Palace have been started on the embankment, and in 1723 after several reconstructions the decoration of the Fourth Winter Palace was completed. Two years later on January 28, 1725 Peter the Great died there. In 1766 the buildings were transferred to the possession of the Imperial Theatres Administration.
Construction of the new theatre was committed to Giacomo Quarenghi and lasted since 1785 up to 1785. After the official opening the construction works continued up to 1802.
The Hermitage Theatre was projected by Quarenghi on an antique model - with semicircular amphitheatre of rising tiers of seats, and it is really one of the best theatre halls in the city. The hall is decorated with Corinthian semi-columns and between them Quarenghi have placed sculptural images of Apollo and nine Muses as well as bas-reliefs of famous musicians and poets.
The first season in the Hermitage Theatre was opened on November 16, 1785. Thoroughly chosen guest entered the theatre through roofed passage built by G.Veldten across Zymnyaya Kanavka (Winter Channel). All the European and Russian repertoire of the XVIII century was performed on this stage.
After the death of Catherine II in 1796 performances have ceased. Alt the attempts to revive the theatre in the XIX century have failed. Up to the early 1980s the Hermitage Theatre housed the Hermitage Lecture-hall, other premises were occupied by museum's departments, laboratories and depositories.
In 1989 after reconstruction and restoration the Hermitage Theatre was opened again.

Address:
Dvortsovay Emb. 34,
Perfomance times:
evenings 19.00