Theatre and Performing Arts’ Life of the Russian Capitals in the Reign of Anna Ioannovna
That decade in the history of Russian theatre may be called, on the one hand, “Italian”, and on the other hand, the most “Russian” (compared with the previous and following decades). Basing on the documentary materials the article studies the process of theatre rooting and the need of performing arts for various strata of Russian spectators. Numerous theatre and performing companies promoted the process. They were: Italian professional dell’Arte comedy companies as well as opera groups engaged by the Russian court, various performances of “free” foreign actors (balance masters, puppeteers, etc.) for the mainstream audience, as well as amateur “Russian comedies” staged both for the court and democratic city public