Russian Theatre

Founded in 1883, the Mikhail Chekhov Russian Theatre is the oldest professional Russian-language theatre outside Russia and one of the very first professional theatres in Latvia. Inspired by Florentine palaces, the theatre has borne the name of Mikhail Chekhov since 2006, in tribute to the actor and director, nephew of the famous writer Anton Chekhov, who stayed in Riga between 1932 and 1934, a period he himself described as his “lucky period”. Beyond his performances, he left a lasting mark on the city through his innovative approach to teaching drama, laying the foundations for a modern method of actor training that had a lasting influence on the local stage before he went on to pursue his career in Europe and then in Hollywood, where he would later train stars such as Marilyn Monroe and Clint Eastwood. Turn around and take a moment to look up at the sculpture on the corner, right in front of the "Colonel" tavern. It’s a decorative sign depicting a moustached man in period costume, sitting on a barrel and raising a beer mug in a toast. This type of sculpture, typical of old European taverns, once served to signal a place of conviviality even to those who could not read. Cheers!