January 14th marks the Georgian Theater Day
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January 14th is officially the Georgian Theater Day. This year's date, at the decision of the Theater Society and Georgian Theater Critics' Union, was dedicated to the historic theater of Hereti - the village of Alibeglo, the only Georgian state-owned theater outside Georgia.
A special event was held to mark the Georgian Theater Day. Undoubdetly, Alibeglo Drama Theater participated in the event, which was a full-fledged visit to Tbilisi from Azerbaijan specifically for this day. Members of the Alibeglo Drama Theater were awarded with certificates of appreciation for their special contribution to the promotion of Georgian culture; the founder of the theater - Anzor Dolenjashvili, was awarded the Sandro Akhmeteli Prize, and the theater directors were awarded the title of "Amagdari".
The Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport of Georgia - Mikheil Chkhenkeli personally congratulated the members of the troupe on the Day of the Georgian Theater and wished them success in their professional activities:
"This year's anniversary is especially imperative - with the decision of the Theater Society and the Critics' Union of Georgia, this day is dedicated to the Alibeglo Drama Theater, the only state-owned Georgian theater outside Georgia. All of us realize how important it is for Georgian art to be heard aloud in historical Hereti. On behalf of the government, our ministry, and our entire community, I express my immense gratitude to the theater leadership, the directors, each member and staff of the theater. Once again, we cordially congratulate every actor, director, playwright, screenwriter, every theater worker and, of course, its loyal audience.”
In 1980-1981, Manana Kvirkvelia and Mzia Mchedlishvili, students of the Directing Department of Theater Institute in the village of Alibeglo, historical Hereti, arrived to perform the first performance "Salamura". Later, director Anzor Dolenjashvili founded the Georgian Professional Theater in Saingilo, named after Ilia Chavchavadze. Today the theater troupe is made up of 20 people and has 10 performances in its repertoire.
A major milestone in the history of the Georgian professional theater begins with the play "Divorce" by poet and playwright - Giorgi Eristavi, which took place on January 2, 1850, in the Assembly Hall of the Tbilisi Gymnasium. This date is considered to be the date of the restoration of the Georgian Theater and is celebrated as the Day of the Georgian Theater since the 80s of the XIX century.
