While Covid ruled our lives, we missed the simple things, like meeting friends at cafes or just going wherever we pleased. Musicians around the world tried to fill the gap and support people by putting on online concerts. The situation is presently improving, and Moscow’s offline cultural life is making a comeback, though audiences and event organizers prefer outdoor venues, which are thought be more pandemic-proof. That's why we want to introduce you to the Green Theater at the Exhibition of Achievements of National Economy, aka VDNH – one of the greatest open-air stages in Moscow for concerts, musicals, stand up shows, etc.
The Green Theater is the same age as VDNH. Both have rich histories and were opened and closed several times as the country experienced ups and downs.
‘Green Theater’ was a common name for outdoor concert venues in the USSR. The Green Theater at VDNH was built in 1939 by the famous Soviet architect Boris Efimovich. It was initially made of wood and reminiscent of an ancient Greek theater. Classical Greek architecture inspired many designs for Soviet buildings at that time, and many structures were built in this style at VDNH.
The USSR was dragged into World War II just two years after the Exhibition Center opened, and the Green Theater was closed and remained so for almost 15 years. In the mid-1950s, it was rebuilt from bricks and reborn as the epicenter of the capital’s creative life and stage art. It was a kind of school for young talented artists, as well as a place where audiences could enjoy performances featuring the biggest stars of the epoch, including Leonid Utesov, Josef Kobzon, Ludmila Zykina, and Arkady Raykin.
What’s more, before or after performances, audience members could take the opportunity to visit VDNH – one of the most beautiful places in Moscow, with exhibits dedicated to art, folk culture, technology, agriculture, science, etc.
With the dissolution of the Soviet Union in the 1990s, the theater was shut down again and abandoned. By the mid-2010s, it was in an appallingly dilapidated state. That situation finally changed in 2014, when a large-scale project was launched to entirely renovate VDNH, with its 325 hectares of park grounds, buildings, and structures. Now, the Green Theater has seating capacity for 1,400 people and is once again hosting performances. During the summer months, audiences can take in open-air shows here almost every day, including classical, rock, electronic, and pop music concerts; modern theatrical presentations; comedy acts; and much more. Attending one of these might be one of your most memorable summer evenings in Moscow!
Many events here are free to attend and entrance to the VDNH is also free.
For more information about the Green Theater and its schedule, visit the venue’s official website at https://zeleny-theatre.com
