History of first Tomsk theatre (by newspapers ''Tomskie Gybernskie Vedomosti'' and ''Sibirskaya Gazeta'')

The article analyses the main periods of the first Tomsk theatre development on the material of local critics and journalists' reports and reviews, published in Tomsk newspapers at the end of the 19th century. History of the first theatre of this city can be investigated from two basic sources: unofficial part of the first Tomsk periodical ''Tomskie Gybernskie Vedomosti'' (1857-1917) and the first private newspaper of the famous Tomsk enlightener and philanthropist P.I. Makushin ''Sibirskaya Gazeta'' (1881-1888). The first Tomsk theatre was founded in 1848-1850 in the city grove (which later will be called University grove) in the place of the modern main building of Siberian State Medical University. To construct the theatre building the city head and well-known gold industry entrepreneur A.E. Filimonov raised a subscription and himself made the biggest cash input. The City Authorities allowed using the land for theatre under the condition of returning it back when the first Siberian University would be built. That is why it was decided to construct a wooden theatre building instead of a permanent one. Opening of the first theatre in Tomsk in summer of 1850 became an important event in the cultural life of the whole city: local spectators got an opportunity to get in touch with the theatrical art and to develop their aesthetic sense. Unfortunately, during the first decades of its existence Tomsk theatre was non-demanded for a number of reasons. First of all, there permanently appeared long intervals (which could last for years) between the visits of touring companies, because entrepreneurs were still afraid to rent the outback theatre building for the winter theatrical seasons. Secondly, at that time Tomsk theatre did not have the contingent of devoted theatre-lovers, ready to visit performances regularly. In the third place, local spectators had no desire to visit theatre, because it had no appropriate conveniences. After losing all his money A.E. Filimonov gave theatre under the authority of the City Council, but it also did not look after the theatre building. It became dilapidated and was determined for demolition in the early 1880s. On the 18 of July 1882 an insertion about an auction sale of the theatre was published in the newspaper ''Sibirskaya Gazeta''. Final auction took place on the 17 of August in the building of Public Meeting. As a result, in the summer of 1882 the first Tomsk theatre, which had existed for thirty two years, ceased to exist.

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