The history of MDT began less than a year after the liberation of Leningrad from the siege, when most of the theatres were still evacuated beyond the city of Leningrad. On September, 9, 1944, by the decision of the executive committee of Leningrad Regional Council of Workers' Deputies, the Regional Drama Theatre of Small Forms was created. First the theatre didn’t have its own building and had to tour around the Leningradsky Region.

In 1956, MDT found its home at address 18, Rubinstein Street. The theatre building has the status of an architectural monument protected by the state as an object of cultural heritage. Built in 1872 according to the project of architect V.F. von Haecker for the factory of I.A. Zheverzheev, in 1911 the building was reconstructed for the theatre.

The status of the Theatre of Europe MDT was awarded in 1998 by the decision of the General Assembly of the Union of European Theatres. The Maly Drama Theatre is a regular guest and participant in prestigious theatre festivals such as the Golden Mask.

In 1975, MDT began cooperation with Lev Abramovich Dodin, who since 1983 has been its permanent artistic director and since 2002 - a director.