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Address:
24 Chavchavadze Av.; Tel.: 2 37 40
Director: Kakha Beridze
In
1850-56 the royal theatre, which was closed under Persian rule in 1775, was
reopened in Gori. The famous Georgian playwright Giorgi Eristavi, who came from
Gori, laid a foundation to the Georgian national theatre, in fact it was the
theatre of European standards.
He himself staged his own plays like: “Divorce”,
“Argument”, and seven plays by Z. Antonov.
July 26, 1865 is considered to be the
date of the rebirth of the theatre.
On
this day “The miser” a play by G. Eristavi was staged. In 1874 “a club of
amateurs” was founded in Gori whose first performance “The Miser” was
staged in a little community hall on February 8, 1874.
On
August 22, 1875 two more plays by G. Eristavi “Uchinmachinis Kudi” and
“Dzalad Ekimi” (a forced doctor) were staged.
On that day theatre goers saw the
appearance of Nato
Gabunia later a famous actress.
In 1880 a drama circle of students was
founded handed by Alexander
Garsevanishvili.
In the 90 -ies 3-4 plays were staged in a
year. Those years theatre goers of
Gori saw such plays as: “Pepo” by G. Sundukiani; “Baikushi” by A.
Tsagareli, “They First Died then Got Married” by R. Eristavi, “The Miser”
and “Khorveloba” by G. Eristavi; “What Is not Mine Isn’t Mine” by V.
Gunia; “Koroghli” by Z. Antonov, “Injineri or Dokhturi” by N. Aziani.
In 1909 a “Peoples Theatre” was founded
in Gori by railway workers. After
the earthquake of 1920 the performances were discontinued as the building of the
community was destroyed. In 1921 the soviet power was destroyed. In 1921 the
soviet power was established in Georgia. Gori was totally destroyed at that time
“Sakhalkho Sakhli” (people’s house) was organized on the initiative of
amateur actors, where performances were rehearsed and staged.
In 1931 youth and children’s
theatre was opened.
In 1934 a seasonal cast of professionals was made up.
The new theatre building was designed by architects Sh. Tavadze and M.
Chkikvadze which was opened on December 21, 1939 to Stalin’s 60th birthday.
The building house is for 500 spectators. The first performance was shown on
January 30, 1940. It was “Gadasasvlelze” a drama of J. Gedevanishvili and
then six more performances were staged in 1940-41: “Khanuma” of A. Tsagareli,
“Shamili” of I. Vakeli, “Our Land” of G. Berdzenishvili, “His Wife”
of A. Duma, “A blind musician” of A. Kocharian, “Shemshati” of O.
Aleksishvili (producer:
P. Phrangishvili).
In 1941-45 the repertoire of the theatre
was very patriotic, such as “Patara Kakhi” of A. Tsereteli, “Mother and
Son” of I. Chavchavadze, “Motherland” of D. Eristavi, “Treason” of A.
Sumbatashvili, “Robbers” of P. Shiler etc. Besides, the cast organized
charity concerts for army, Units, in the hospitals etc. The actresses looked
after the wounded in hospitals. The most popular plays were: “The Youth of the
Leader” of G.Nakhutsrishvili, “ The Drowned Stones” of I. Mosasshvili,”
“The Wedding of Phigaro” of Bomarshe (producer: V. Kukhitashvili);
“Avalanche” of M. Mrevlishvili, “The
Difficulty of Darispan” of D. Kldiashvili, “Tevdore” of O. Chkheidze (producer:
L. Ioseliani);
“The Reprimanded” of Al. Kazbeg,
“Antigone” of Sophokle, “ Young Guards” of Al. Fadeev (producer: I.
Kakulia);
“Kamushdze’s difficulties” of D. Kldiashvili (producer:
Sh. Kobidze)
“Pirosmani”
of G. Nakhutsrishvili, “The Verdict of Accusation” of N. Dumbadze, “The
Teacher of Dancing “ by Lope de Vega (producer:
G. Abramishvili);
“Arsena Marabdeli” by M. Javakhishvili
(producer: O. Lortkipanidze);
“Solomon – the Judge of the King” by O. Chkeidze (producer:
Al. Jakeli);
“Tram
which is called “Wish” by T. Williams (producer: Kharshiladze);
“King
Oedipus” by Sopokhle (producer: I. Matskonashvili);
“The
Cold Strawberry Tart” by A. Kokrashvili (producer: G Sikharulidze) etc.
The success of the theatre is
due to the actors and actresses: M. Bakhtadze, N. Berozashvili, A. Iverieli, Sh.
Kherkheulidze, V. Kakhniashvili, E. Arakelov, S.Grikurov, Sh. Khajalia, S.
Kalandarishvili, L. Gurgenidze, V. Marsagishvili, K. Bochorishvili, G.
Tsitskishvili, L. Tskhvariashvili, N. Zaldastanishvili, G. Basishvili, O.
Datunashvili, O. Kutateladze, L. Osgebashvili, P. Pulariani, D. Chamauri, M.
Tevdorashvili, Z. Kabulashvili etc.
The social situation of Georgia of the last
ten years had an unfavorable influence on the theatre: there is no electricity
or heating in the building; financial and wages are very low (30 Lari ($15));
the audio and illumination apparatus is out of order; Water leaks from the
ceiling etc.
….But in fact, Gori Eristavi State Theatre did its bit for the development
of the Georgian Theatre!
In 14
january 2001, in
Gori Eristavi State
Theatre, Theatrical
Society of Georgia, The Ministry of Culture of Georgia and local Administration
of Shida Kartli have noted 150
universary of Georgian
theatre!