This is one of the oldest Russian theatres. The building was constructed in 1824 by the architects O. Bove and A. Elkinsky (and subsequently rebuilt). The building of the Maly Theatre is the only survivor of the original classical ensemble on Tetralnaya Square. The Maly Theatre was depicted by Bulgakov in Theatrical Nove’ as the Stary Theatre.

Having served in the frontline hospitals in Kamyanets-Podolsky and Chernovtsy, Mikhail headed to Moscow with Tatyana Lappa for a new job appointment. The Bulgakovs were only in the city for a couple of days – from 20th to 22nd September 1916. In conversation with L. Parshin, Lappa remembered, ‘Oh, Moscow was so ancient then! We went to the theatre there, to the Maly… I don’t remember what we saw, but I left my umbrella there. It was a good umbrella, a black one with an amber handle…’ On 21st September 1916, N. Grigorev-Istomin’s vaudeville show The Puchkov Family and their Dog (directed by S. Font) was being shown at the Maly Theatre – perhaps it was this show that the Bulgakovs watched.