Maly Drama Theatre of St. Petersburg, Russia

The Maly Drama Theatre was founded in St. Petersburg in 1944, when many theaters were evacuated from the city. Founded by the Regional Executive Committee, the small company performed throughout the region. Lev Dodin first staged The Robber (by Karel Chapek) in 1975 at the Maly, and in 1983 became artistic director. Currently, the MDT is regarded as one of the top Russian theaters and has garnered worldwide acclaim for its inventive productions done primarily in a naturalistic style. The Maly has about 60 actors and participates in leading cultural festivals internationally, in addition to giving regular performances in St. Petersburg. Performances at BAM include Gaudeamus (1994), Uncle Vanya (2010), Three Sisters (2012), and The Cherry Orchard (2016).