The Musical Theatre appeared in Irkutsk in 1941 on the basis of the Gorky theatre of musical comedy that toured in the city. The construction of the theatre’s new building was completed in December 1989. The theatre was named after the People’s Artist of Russia Nikolai Zagursky in connection with his sixtieth anniversary. At present the theatre’s repertoire embraces all genres from classical to modern music: operas, rock-operas, ballets, operettas, musicals. There is a theatre museum in the theatre. Exhibitions of Siberian artists and photographers often take place at the theatre’s foyer.