The Irkutsk Academic Drama Theater named after N.P. Okhlopkov

The Irkutsk Academic Drama Theater named after N.P. Okhlopkov is one of the oldest theaters in Siberia, founded in 1850. It became the first professional theater in the region and an important cultural center. The theater was originally located in a wooden building that burned down in 1879. In 1897, a new stone building was built. The money for the construction was given by the provincial administration, headed by Governor-General Nikolai Muravyov-Amursky, and part of the costs were covered by donations. In 1932, the theater was renamed in honor of Nikolai Petrovich Okhlopkov, a famous actor and director. The theater staged plays by classics such as Chekhov and Ostrovsky. Currently, he actively participates in theater festivals, including the Golden Mask.