Ryazan Regional Drama Theater awarded the “Badge of Honour” is one of the oldest theaters in Russia, was founded in 1787. In XVIII century, known under the name of the “Opera House” and supported by the famous poet Gabriel Derzhavin, it had one of the few permanent companies in Russia. Since that time the theater has played an outstanding role in regional and all-russian cultural lives. It has a rich history of great performances such as “Othello”and “Hamlet” by W. Shakespeare (staged in the province for the first time),“The Governmental Inspector” by N.Gogol, plays by A.Pushkin, A.Tchekov, A.Ostrovsky, M.Gorky etc. It also attracted the best creative talents from Russia produced from P.Sadovsky, M.Tarkhanov, E.Garin, A.Efros, V.Gilyarovsky and tours of M.Shchepkin, M.Ermolova, K.Stanislavsky, F.Shalyapin, M.Petipa etc in XIX-XX centuries. In 1862 the “Opera House” was awarded the status of the Drama Theater.

The company takes part in various Russian and international theater festivals and is distinguished with prizes. It also regularly goes on tour in Russia and abroad. The repertory is mostly based on Russian and world classics. But it also nurtures young actors, writers and directors to bring theater to a wider audience.