Südalinna Theatre, formerly theRussian Theatre (Russian:Русский театр Эстонии,Estonian:Vene Teater) is a Russian-language theatre inTallinn, Estonia. It is housed in a building that was originally built as acinema in 1926 and is inArt Deco style.[1][2][3]
A small Russian theatre community has existed in Tallinn since the late 19th century; it grew following theRussian Revolution when Russian actors settled in Estonia as refugees. A permanent Russian-language theatre was not set up in the city until 1948, however. During theSoviet occupation of Estonia, it was one of several Russian-language theatres of theSoviet Union and also toured around the whole country. Since Estonia re-gained its independence, the theatre has focused more on a local audience.
The Russian theatre has put up both Russian-language classical plays by e.g.Anton Chekhov andAlexander Griboyedov as well as translations of plays from other languages, including Estonian plays in cooperation with Estonian-language directors.
From 1930, until its closure in 2005, a restaurant and casino named the Astoria (originally the "Dancing-Palace Gloria") existed in the building's basement.[4]
The theatre was renamed asSüdalinna Teater ("city centre theatre") in September 2025.[5]
Media related toRussian Theatre of Estonia at Wikimedia Commons59°25′56″N24°44′41″E / 59.43222°N 24.74472°E /59.43222; 24.74472
