Penza, 20 December 2011. PenzaNews. Reconstruction of the building of Penza circus will cost 1 350 thousand rubles. It was sounded during the public hearings of the project prepared by Moscow architects, on Monday, December, 19th.

It is planned that the quantity of seats will be the same. The hotel will be built and the parking lot will be organized near the circus.

According to the director of the Penza circus Vladimir Golubev, 600 million roubles will be allocated from the federal budget within the limits of preparation for celebrating of the 350th anniversary of Penza.

As the news agency PenzaNews reported earlier, in April, 2011 the governor of the Penza region Vasily Bochkarev addressed to the chairman of the government of the Russian Federation Vladimir Putin and offered to work out the state program of reconstruction of the buildings of the circuses.

Penza circus was constructed by brothers of Nikitins in 1873 and it was the first stationary circus in Russia. It was considered a primogenitor of the circus art in Russia, bases here were formed, the first Russian circus actors were brought up and “became tempered”.

Originally brothers Nikitins constructed the circus on the bank of the river Sura and held the performances on ice. The building for circus performances of various troupes appeared in 1906. Albert Sur was the initiator of building. This premise was stationary, was made of wood and suitable for winter performances. This building was used till the Civil war.

In 1920-1950 circus performances were held in temporary constructions and circus tents. However in 1933 circus “Krasnogvardeets” was built up. The initiators were the representatives of red guerrillas. Here, as well as in other premises, circus performances were held regulary and were vey popular. This building was used till the Great Patriotic War.

Six years the residents of Penza watched the performances on the arena of summer circus tents and in 1965 the stationary capital new building of circus for 1 400 spectators was opened.