Original project "Treasury" renews its exposition at the National Centre RUSSIA

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Meet the heroes of your favourite fairy tales, immerse yourself in an atmosphere of magic and feel like a child again. The exposition of the original project "Treasury" has been renewed at the National Centre RUSSIA — until 11 October, unique exhibits from the collection of the S.V. Obraztsov State Academic Central Puppet Theatre — the largest puppet theatre in the world — are on display here. Visitors will see characters from famous productions, fairy-tale scenery and rare theatrical artefacts that tell the story of puppetry through vivid imagery and profound symbolism.

The Museum of the Sergei Obraztsov Puppet Theatre is considered one of the largest in the world — its collections contain around four thousand theatrical puppets from more than 50 countries. Each of them is not merely a stage prop, but an independent work of art, combining the skill of artists, complex control mechanisms and the traditions of puppetry from different eras.

"For the 'Treasury' project, we have tried to select the most unique treasures from our collection. Sergei Vladimirovich Obraztsov said that the puppet theatre is above all an artist's theatre, so viewers will be able to see the work of outstanding masters up close for the first time. The theatrical puppet stands at the intersection of decorative and applied art and small-scale sculpture, and such a great opportunity to see such fine handiwork is a rare one," noted Galina Shirokova, Head of the Museum of the S.V. Obraztsov State Academic Central Puppet Theatre.

The "Treasury" exposition features puppets from the theatre's famous productions — "Cinderella", "The Nutcracker", "Confession of a Hooligan", "The Tsar-Maiden" and "Love for Three Oranges". Visitors will be able to examine the unusual costumes, the delicate handiwork, the expressive faces of the characters and the details that often go unnoticed by the audience during a performance, but which create the unique theatrical magic.

A special place in the exposition is occupied not only by the puppets themselves, but also by pieces of scenery. Guests will see an elegant carriage from the production of "Cinderella", as well as a fairy-tale ship from "The Tsar-Maiden". These set pieces help convey the scale of the artists' work and give a sense of how theatrical fairy tales are brought to life.

"By preserving these exhibits, we are preserving the scenographic legacy of Russian puppet theatre. Behind every puppet, every set piece lies the labour of outstanding artists, craftspeople and entire generations of theatre professionals. These works are important not only as a memory of famous productions, but also as a source of inspiration for future artists, who can learn from the finest examples of theatrical art," emphasised the head of the museum.

Behind every exhibit lies the story of a production that has become part of the country's theatrical culture. For example, the musical-poetic "Confession of a Hooligan", based on works by Sergei Yesenin, received acclaim at Russian and international theatre festivals, while "The Tsar-Maiden" found new life on the stage of the Lugansk Puppet Theatre as part of a creative collaboration with the Obraztsov Theatre. The production of "Love for Three Oranges", based on Italian folk tales, combines the traditions of European street theatre with contemporary puppetry.

Galina Shirokova emphasised that it is a great honour for the museum to present its exhibits at the National Centre RUSSIA. According to her, the S.V. Obraztsov State Academic Central Puppet Theatre is the country's largest puppet theatre, and its museum holds one of the world's most significant collections devoted to the history of international puppetry.

"We are proud of the opportunity to present these exhibits to the widest possible audience and to sustain interest in the art of theatrical puppetry and the names of the artists who create this remarkable world," she added.

The "Treasury" project introduces visitors to unique exhibits from the collections of the country's leading museums. Its main goal is to showcase the richness of Russia's museum legacy and make outstanding cultural treasures accessible to the broadest possible audience. The exposition is regularly renewed, allowing guests of the National Centre RUSSIA to discover new chapters of the country's cultural legacy.

The first exposition in May 2026 was the collection of the N.D. Bartram Museum of Toys — the only museum of its kind in the world, where visitors could explore rare exhibits from the history of children's culture. The new exposition continues the tradition of the project, revealing new facets of Russia's cultural legacy through unique museum collections.