Stanislavsky Theater cancels performances until August 1

The Stanislavsky and Nemirovich-Danchenko Theater, a hugely popular venue with Muscovites and guests of the Russian capital, has cancelled all performances - eight in June and sixteen in July, including today's performance of "Giselle" - because of the fire that broke out yesterday, a source in the theater administration told RIA Novosti. The performances will begin anew in early August.

According to the source, the theater goes without electricity and the audience hall, stage and pit are filled with water. The fire has burned out the wardrobe, but luckily the musical instruments were not damaged, she said.

"It was a shock for all of us," said Natalia Dovbysh, the orchestra director. "But the calamity is not so bad considering that the theater is moving to a new building, the one situated in the yard, on August 1. Simultaneously, reconstruction works begin in the old building." The fire broke out in a two-story outhouse adjacent to the theater at 18:50 Moscow time on Wednesday, 10 minutes before "Giselle" was to begin. The administration evacuated a total of almost 1,000 people, including the audience and theater staff. No one was hurt.