Ancient Period
The history of theatre in Adjara dates back to the ancient era. Near Batumi, a few kilometers away, stood the Roman settlement of Apsaros (present-day Gonio), which, according to the Greek traveler and historian Procopius of Caesarea, was “adorned with a theatre and a hippodrome.”
1879 — The First Performance
The first Georgian theatrical performance in Batumi after Adjara's reunification with the motherland was staged on 8 (20) July 1879 by local amateur theatre enthusiasts. This event marked the foundation of Georgian theatre in Adjara. The initiator of the performance was Ketevan Zhuruli, the wife of the Batumi Police Chief. The amateur troupe presented Zurab Antonov's comedy "Didn't Uncle Get Married?"
1884 — The First Theatre Building
A small theatre building was constructed in 1884, with a seating capacity of approximately 450 spectators. Later, the theatre was relocated to the so-called “Iron Theatre.” In the early 1890s, the permanent amateur theatre troupe was led by Davit Kldiashvili, who was serving in the military in Batumi at the time. The amateur performers staged productions for charitable purposes, supporting the Society for the Promotion of Literacy among Georgians, the Georgian Book Repository, and underprivileged students.
1912 — The Professional Theatre
On 28 August 1912, a meeting of actors was held, resulting in the establishment of the Actors’ Association. Shalva Dadiani was elected as its director. The Travelling Troupe gave its first performance in Batumi on 15 September at the Shmaevsky Theatre. Thus, the foundations of the third professional theatre in Georgia were laid—an event of great significance for the development of Georgian theatrical culture at the time. In 1913, the Dramatic Society was founded in Batumi under the leadership of the prominent public figure Ivane Meskhi. The Society’s board formed a professional theatre company directed by Shalva Dadiani. The Batumi Drama Troupe consisted of both local actors and invited performers.
1921 — Academic Status
In 1921, the Batumi Theatre was granted Academic Theatre status. In 1928, under the leadership of Kote Marjanishvili, the second State Theatre was established in Kutaisi under the name Kutaisi-Batumi Theatre. Until the company relocated to Tbilisi, between 1928 and 1930, the theatre presented performances in both Kutaisi and Batumi. During the 1931–1932 theatrical season, the young Yusuf Kobaladze joined the Batumi Theatre troupe. At that time, the company was led by Kote Marjanishvili.
1932 — The "Adjara Section"
During the Rustaveli Theatre’s tour to Batumi in 1932, the authorities of Adjara reached an agreement with the theatre’s artistic director, Sandro Akhmeteli, to establish an “Adjara Section” within the Drama Studio of the Rustaveli Theatre. The initiative aimed to train a new group of actors for the Batumi Theatre. The management of the Rustaveli Theatre announced admissions to the studio, and more than twenty young candidates were selected for the programme. The faculty included some of the most distinguished figures of Georgian culture and theatre, among them Sandro Akhmeteli, Akaki Vasadze, Konstantine Gamsakhurdia, Shalva Nutsubidze, Shota Aghsabadze, Kote Pataridze, Dimitri Aleksidze, and others.
1937 — The New Theatre
On 18 March 1937, the new theatre was officially inaugurated in a ceremonial opening. The theatre company consisted of young actors trained at the Drama Studio of the Rustaveli Theatre. The opening performance was Giorgi Mdivani’s drama The Blind, in which the entire company took part. The troupe included Lili Apkhazava, Alexandra Gorneli (Darchia), Nunu Tetradze, Nino Pkhakadze, Giorgi Akhvlediani, Khasan Babuchoghli, Bukhuti Zakariadze, Suliko Turmanidze, Iskander Kaikatsishvili, Yusuf Kobaladze, Akaki Mgeladze, Khasan Megrelidze, Zorbeg Ghlonti, Ednar Shamiladze, Mikheil Tsignadze, Murad Khinikadze, and others.
1946 — “Oedipus the King”
On 27 July 1946, the Batumi Theatre presented Sophocles’ King Oedipus, directed by Archil Chkhartishvili and Shalva Inasaridze. The production achieved remarkable success and was widely acclaimed by audiences and critics alike. The press extensively covered this artistic triumph of the theatre. The renowned playwright Leonid Malyugin wrote: “A few months ago, in Batumi, at the Georgian Theatre, I saw a brilliant production of Oedipus Rex"
1952 — The Present Theatre Building
On 19 March 1952, a new theatre building was inaugurated in Batumi. Designed by architect Yuri Teplitsky, the building has served as the theatre’s main venue ever since. Today, it continues to operate as the home of the theatre at 1 Shota Rustaveli Street, Batumi.
1959 — The Theatre Named After Ilia Chavchavadze
In 1959, the Batumi Theatre was named in honour of Ilia Chavchavadze, the eminent Georgian writer, public figure and national leader.
The Second Half of the 20th Century
The Second Half of the 20th Century The 1960s marked the beginning of significant changes in Georgian theatre. A new generation of talented young artists emerged, bringing fresh ideas and creative energy to the stage. As in the theatres of Tbilisi, Batumi Theatre also entered a period of renewal and artistic transformation. During the 1960s and 1970s, the theatre’s creative ensemble was enriched by young directors and actors who would later make a substantial contribution to its development and artistic achievements. The 1970s and 1980s saw the arrival of yet another generation of theatre professionals. From the second half of the 1980s, the social and political changes taking place throughout the country had a profound impact on Georgian theatre as a whole, including the Batumi Theatre. The unstable situation influenced both the theatre’s repertoire policy and its artistic aesthetics. In the second half of the 1990s, Levan Mirtskhulava was appointed Artistic Director of the theatre and began working to transform and revitalize the institution.
2005 — A New Stage of Renewal
Since the text is in Georgian, here is the English translation: From 2005, the theatre’s creative activity changed radically: Robert Sturua was appointed as artistic consultant, and Giorgi Tavadze as artistic director. From this period onward, the theatre became actively involved in international processes and gained wide recognition. From January 2014, Andro Enukidze was appointed as artistic director. During his leadership, the theatre demonstrated a strong inclination toward both classical and contemporary dramaturgy. In the same period, several international co-productions were carried out, and the theatre building underwent full rehabilitation. In 2021, Aleksandre Kantaria was appointed as the head of the theatre, during whose tenure the repertoire became more stable.
Today
Currently, the theatre is led by actor and director Kote Mzhavia. The 147th season is ongoing — for 147 years, the Batumi State Theatre has been serving Georgian culture and art. The theatre operates across three stage spaces: the Main Stage and the Experimental Stage located at 1 Shota Rustaveli Street, and the Small Stage located at 32 A. Melashvili Street.
