State Central Puppet Theatre

theater, Moscow, Russia

Written by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Last updated

July 14, 2026

Quick Summary

The State Central Puppet Theatre, now known as the Obraztsov Puppet Theatre, was founded in Moscow, Russia, in 1931 by Sergey Obraztsov. Obraztsov is credited with establishing puppetry as a significant art form in the Soviet Union and is considered one of the greatest puppeteers of the 20th century. The theatre gained international acclaim through numerous tours, showcasing technical excellence and stylistic discipline in performances like "An Unusual Concert" and "Aladdin's Magic Lamp". These performances enchanted audiences worldwide and inspired the founding of rod-puppet theatres in other countries. The theatre continues to offer delightful performances for all ages.12

Summary created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.

5 Britannica Sources

Ask Britannica AI about this topic

Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.

Russia
The 20th century
…Obraztsov Puppet Theatre (formerly the State Central Puppet Theatre), founded in Moscow by Sergey Obraztsov, continues to give delightful performances for patrons of all ages. The same can be said for the spectacular presentations of the Moscow State Circus, which has performed throughout the world to great acclaim. Using since…
Read More
…Obraztsov Puppet Theatre (formerly the State Central Puppet Theatre), founded in Moscow by Sergey Obraztsov, continues to give delightful performances for patrons of all ages. The same can be said for the spectacular presentations of the Moscow State Circus, which has performed throughout the world to great acclaim. Using since…
Read More

puppetry
Rod puppets
…these may have inspired the State Central Puppet Theatre in Moscow, directed by Sergey Obraztsov, to develop this type of puppet during the 1930s. After World War II Obraztsov’s theatre made many tours, especially in eastern Europe, and a number of puppet theatres using rod puppets were founded as a…
Read More
…these may have inspired the State Central Puppet Theatre in Moscow, directed by Sergey Obraztsov, to develop this type of puppet during the 1930s. After World War II Obraztsov’s theatre made many tours, especially in eastern Europe, and a number of puppet theatres using rod puppets were founded as a…
Read More