Old Theater of Vilnius, Vilnius

The Old Theatre of Vilnius is a unique professional theatre in Lithuania, as it stages performances exclusively in Russian. The theatre's repertoire features a diverse array of classic and modern works, including adaptations of plays by Anton Chekhov, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Alexander Pushkin, William Shakespeare, and others.

The theatre was founded in 1864 by Pavel Vasilyev, an accomplished actor from the Imperial Alexandrinsky Theatre in Saint Petersburg. The theatre's early repertoire included performances based on works by both Russian and foreign playwrights, such as Chekhov, Ibsen, and Hauptman. In the late 19th century, the renowned Russian actress Vera Komissarzhevskaya performed on the theatre's stage.

During World War I, the theatre was forced to close, and its company disbanded. It was not until 1946 that the theatre was able to reopen, with a performance of Ostrovsky's Innocent as Charged. Over the years, the theatre has been home to many notable personalities, including directors Roman Viktyuk and Jonas Jurašas, actresses Monika Mironaitė and Elina Bystritskaya, and composer/musician Vyacheslav Ganelin. The theatre enjoyed its golden age in the 1960s and 1980s, during which time it played a prominent role in Lithuania's cultural life and earned high praise from foreign critics.

In the 1980s, the theatre relocated from its original location on Jogailos Street to the historical building that once housed the Pogulyanka Polish Theatre. Built in 1913 by Wacław Michniewicz and Aleksander Parczewski, this theatre building is a protected cultural site recognized by UNESCO.

Its architecture blends elements of various styles, including Romanesque, Renaissance, and Baroque. The Great Hall is adorned with a chandelier as old as the theatre itself, embellished with masks and crystal. The theatre building has also hosted many significant historical events, such as the 1917 conference that discussed the establishment of an independent Lithuanian state. It has also witnessed the triumphs of esteemed theatre companies and personalities, including Juliusz Osterwa and his Reduta Theatre, Aleksander Zelwerowicz, Borisas Dauguvietis, Antanas Škėma, and Eimuntas Nekrošius. Since 1986, The Old Theatre of Vilnius has called this building home, adding to its rich cultural and historic legacy.