The first noble amateur theatrical performances at the court of Catherine II (1763-1768)

The study aims to identify the amateur theatrical performances held at the court of Catherine II from 1763 to 1768 and all possible additional information related to them. Based on the Kammerfurier Journals, the article presents noble amateur performances staged at court during the first five years of the reign of Empress Catherine II. Information about the discovered performances is checked and supplemented by referring to a number of other sources. The article briefly characterizes little-known plays of the 18th century and provides the author’s translation of some necessary fragments from them. The scientific novelty lies in the fact that such a phenomenon as the court amateur theater in Russia in the second half of the 18th century is being studied for the first time. As a result of the research, it was possible to compile a chronology of court amateur performances held from 1763 to 1768, identify their participants, establish the places where the performances were held, and characterize some little-known plays that amateurs performed. In addition, we can say that court amateur performances occupied an important role in the spectacular culture of the 18th century and were of two types. The first type includes performances that had political significance. Such performances were part of the overall process of legitimizing the new empress, aimed at creating an ideal image and reconciling the aristocracy. One production involved both supporters and opponents of Catherine II, and the performed plays contained hints of a recent coup. The second type is secular performances, characterized by the novelty of the repertoire and not used as an instrument for strengthening power.