Arkhangelsk puppet theater was formed in 1933. Its founders were young Leningrad actors and students of the Studio of the Arkhangelsk youth theatre under the direction of A. N. Engelhardt (K. Varakin, M. Bobrov, I. Kochnev, E. Fursova).

Originally, the theatre was a Studio puppeteers. The experience and professionalism appeared at regular rehearsals and first performances. The first were glove puppets that were made by the actors. The puppets were controlled by the hand of the actor. The first performances of "Carousel," "Turnip" "Stepan-Restrepo" – were staged for the youngest audience. The performances could be seen as in the theater, and visits to playgrounds, clubs).

In 1941-1945 puppet theatre into a "Theater stage and dolls". He gave performances in hospitals and parts of the army with anti-fascist puppet performances and concert programs. 1940-1950 years – a difficult period for the puppets, associated with frequent touring, traveling, lack of own premises, the predominance of pop productions, podinovski puppet shows, change the head. Revived the Arkhangelsk puppet theater in the 1960-ies. At that time there was a General rise of the art of puppet theatre in the country. Then the theatre regained its premises and was awarded a diploma of the Ministry of culture of the Soviet Union during the performance of "Silver hoof" by P. Bazhov.

In the 1970s, the theatre was enlarged with young professional puppeteers, graduates of the Leningrad state Institute of theatre, music and cinematography (course M. the Queen). Including theatre became chief Director – Valeria Shadskiy and puppet designer Elena Nikolaev, dolls which have gained recognition not only among the audience but also the critics. Theatre repertoire was enriched by the first performances for adults: "Love, love!" based on "the Decameron" by Giovanni Boccaccio, and others. There were also many performances of famous fairy tales of the Russian people and tales of foreign writers. Music for plays were written by composers P. Koltsov, V. Sukhin, G. Portnov and others.

In 1980-ies of the Arkhangelsk puppet theater under control of Directors V. derjaguin and D. Lokhova appears on the all-Union arena. Incenerate "novel" N. Gogol's story "the Terrible Mr. AU" Finnish writer H. Makela, the novel "Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo, the works of Boris Shergin. The idea of a teacher M Melnicoe in 1985 the theatre was founded the society of lovers of dolls, which United around the theater kids and their parents.

In 1986, former pioneer Palace was home theater. In the same year participated in the international movement of puppet theatre and became a collective member of the International Union of figures of puppet theatre. Also at this time Dmitry Suckers became the chief Director of the theater. And after 3 years he was awarded the title of honored art worker of Russia. In the 1990s, the actors of the puppet theater S. Mikhailov, A. Churkin, V. Nikitinskaya also received the title of honored artist of the Russian Federation.

In 1991 the theatre was organized the I international festival of chamber performances of puppet theatres "Snail". In 1997 he performed at the International theatre festival in Avignon (France). Toured in Sweden, Germany, Finland, Greece, Norway.

Since 1999 when the theater is youth Studio "Dur" ("Major"), in 2000 there appeared literature and theatre, living room theatre actors represent their own work.

In our days the Arkhangelsk puppet theater is one of Russia's best creative teams. He was twice winner of the National theatrical award "the gold Mask" in 1996 and 2003, the holder of the prize of the International festival "Nevsky Pierrot" in 1994, participates in many Russian and European international festivals and is the organizer of the International festival of chamber performances of puppet theatres "Snail" in Arkhangelsk.