The Volkov Theatre on Teatralnaya (Theatre) Square is the oldest professional drama theatre in Russia, founded in 1750 by Fyodor Volkov, a merchant's son who used an old leather warehouse as his first stage. The current building, a neoclassical structure with a colonnaded facade, was completed in 1911.
The theatre continues to perform a full season of Russian and world classics, from Chekhov and Ostrovsky to Shakespeare, usually in Russian. Even if you do not speak Russian, the building itself is worth seeing: the interior has been carefully maintained and the square in front is one of the most pleasant in the city. Check the theatre's schedule online — if a production is running during your visit, tickets are reasonably priced and easy to obtain.