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 buildings for the Second Winter Palace have been started on the embankment, 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. The auditorium of this theater is very much unlike auditoriums of other palace theaters. Quarenghi used the techniques of ancient architecture and designed this auditorium as a semicircular amphitheatre of rising tiers of seats, and it is really one of the best theatre halls in the city. The first performance in the theater took place on November 16, 1785. This was Mikhail Sokolovsky's opera A Miller, a Wizard, a Cheat and a Matchmaker . All theater companies of St. Petersburg: the Russian theater company, the Italian theater company, the French theater company and the German theater company participated in the performances staged at the court theater.

After the death of Catherine II in 1796 performances have ceased. 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.We will be glad to provide you with all assistance in getting the information about the theatre repertoire, booking the tickets (any class), and in organization of private fourchettes during the intervals in the performance.