The Gogol center theater was between 2012 and 2021 under the direction of the acclaimed film director Kirill Serebrennikov.
Its performances are known for daring nudity on stage, profane language and for modern adaptations of Russian classics.
Serebrennikov turned the theater into a national cultural guiding star - but left the country in connection with the outbreak of the war.
Last week, authorities in Moscow announced that the management of a number of theaters will be replaced.
Among them is the Gogol Center, which will now operate under new management and with its old name - Nikolai Gogol Drama Theater.
On Thursday, the theater played a closing performance entitled: "I do not participate in the war".
After the end of the performance, the theater's outgoing artistic director Alexei Agranovich announced: “The Gogol Center is closed.
Forever."
The former leader, Kirill Serebrennikov, also commented on the conclusion on social media: “From the point of view of art, it is a murder.
A punishment for the theatre's honesty and attempt at freedom ”.
Hear theatergoers comment on the message in the clip above.