This is the first comprehensive history of Russian theatre in English. Written by an international team of experts, the book brings together the fruits of recent research into all areas of Russian theatre history. Of particular interest will be the chapters written by senior Russian academics, who not only reveal previously unpublished documentation but also offer new insights into their subjects. The History covers the whole range of Russian dramatic experience, from puppet theatre to ballet and grand opera, but its emphasis is on the practice of theatre, especially acting, and the final chapter puts Russian theatre into the wider context of Western performance and the stage. A key feature of the History is the collection of rare photographs, some published for the first time.