Odessa Russian Theatre

The theatre was constructed in 1874 at the initiative of Velikanov, a local merchant. Velikanov also intended to hire for Nikolai Miloslavsky’s company as the main performer for the theatre. Initially the theatre was called ‘’Theatre Velikanova’’ after his owner. However, in 1875 Velikanov sold the theatre to Rafalovich who renamed it “Russian Theatre”, name which it kept up to present. In the years before the Russian Revolution the theatre hosted the main theatrical events of the city. Many Russian, Ukrainian, German, French, Italian, drama, opera and оperetta companies performed on its stage.