History

Novgorod theatre for children and youth «Mali» has been founded in 1990, and headed by artistic director Nadezhda Alexeeva. The theatre is a member of International Association of theatres for children and youth (ASSITEJ),  and an active participant of projects of Theatre Union of Russia; it has visited the theatre festivals in Japan, South Korea, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Spain, Turkey, Norway, Hungary, Switzerland, France, Poland, Finland, Romania and others, also at Russian festivals in Moscow, Saint-Petersburg, Perm etc. The theatre has cooperated with directors and stage designers from Switzerland, France, Latvia, Russia.

The most important project of theatre is International theatre Kingfestival. In 1992 theatre “Mali” has founded the International theatre Kingfestival, dedicated to the mythology in theatrical sphere, that cover a wide range of theatre forms (drama, contemporary dance, puppet theatre for different ages). The festival is biennially; its visitors became more 150 theatres from Russia, Europe and Asia.

The theatre has got its own actor’s course based on Novgorod University, which first theatre master was the famous director and theatre professor Zinoviy Korogodsky.

Nowadays theatre «Mali» is a dynamically developing theatre space and active touring company; there is a place for experiment, transformation, and innovational forms. The theatre is not afraid to expand the genre borders and creates both drama performances and performances in field of object theatre and movement theatre. Theatre «Mali» got the Special Prize of Theatre Union of Russia «For ponderable contribution to development of Russian Theatre for youth» and Golden Sign of Theatre Union of Russia at National Award and Festival of theatre art for children “Harlequin” (St.Petersburg). In 2014 theatre was invited to Special programm of National Award and Festival «Golden Mask» with performance «Little Feelings» and in 2015 presented this show on National Award and Festival of theatre art for children “Harlequin” in  St.Petersburg. In 2017 performance «Ballad about little tugboat» was included into Long-List of National Award and Festival «Golden Mask» and was invited to Japan as official selection of Year of Russia in Japan.