Neglected Bolshoi theatre to be given £123m face-lift

The celebrated Bolshoi theatre in Moscow will get a much-needed face-lift after receiving £123m for refurbishment from the Russian government.

The pink-tinted classical building has a leaking roof and subsiding foundations. The renovation will last four-and-a-half years, and could mark a turning point in the fortunes of the 225-year-old Bolshoi ballet, which has suffered from years of government neglect and artistic decline.

Anatoly Iksanov, the company's general director, said the work would start next year. Performances will continue during the renovation, although the theatre will be closed during the summer months.

Vladimir Putin, the Russian President, is overseeing the project, calling the Bolshoi "the symbol of Russian culture".