Behind the scenes of the theater, entire worlds are born on sheets of paper, and pencil lines turn into scenery and costumes. The exhibition transports the viewer to a closed space where the artists' ideas are visible even before they reach the stage. Where only traces of pencil and the smell of paint usually remain, ideas are born that define the mood of the future performance. This exhibition takes the viewer to a space that usually exists separately from the stage - to the quiet working corner of the artist, where the first outlines of the world created for the actors and the audience appear. The exposition reveals the process of searching for an image, showing how a sketch gradually transforms into the basis of stage action. Here, models, graphics, working materials, and details of the scenery are collected, allowing one to see how the artist's thought develops and what decisions shape the visual foundation of the production. Through these items, the development of domestic scenography over several decades becomes noticeable. The halls feature works by Eduard Kochergin, Marina Azizyan, Alexander Orlov, Semyon Pastukh, Vladimir Firer, Emil Kapelyush, Irina Cherednikova, and other artists. Their sketches demonstrate different approaches to working with material, color, and scale. Each composition conveys the character of the stage episode, the mood of the images, and the internal logic of the future performance. A separate section is dedicated to Nikolai Akimov. Items from his workshop show how the approach that became a foundation for many students was formed. These items help to see how a style is born that can define an entire era. The exhibition gathers these voices into a single space, creating an atmosphere of focused creative work. We share on our website where to go with children in St. Petersburg.