Exhibitions: “Theater in Moscow. Editions of the 18th – early 20th century” exposition in the Russian State Library

Until March 20, 2012 the Russian State Library (Moscow), houses "Theatre in Moscow. Editions of the 18th – early 20th century" exhibition. It features not only dictionaries, almanacs, and albums from the NIO collection of rare books, but also programmes of performances, binoculars, kid gloves.

One of the most interesting exhibits is the book by the well-known English actor and critic David Garrick "Writing, containing the notes on drama, art show, and the game of theater actors ..." (Moscow, 1781).

History of Moscow is inextricably linked with the history of its famous theaters. One of the references to the Moscow Art Theatre is the cover of the first separate edition of Chekhov's "Three Sisters" (St. Petersburg, 1901) with oval portraits of the principal actresses at the first performance of the play.

Another example of a lofty art of a book is the edition dedicated to Vakhtangov’s performance of the "Princess Turandot" (premiered in 1922). Cover, vignettes, illustrations had been designed by the performance’s decorator Ignatius Nivinsky.

A particular genre of objects, theater programmes wafting the breath of time, is also featured at the exhibition.