Marjanishvili Theatre town to open outside Tbilisi

Tbilisi’s Kote Marjanishvili State Drama Theatre, one of the major Georgian troupes, will have its own town on the outskirts of the capital city.

Set to house creative labs, a large rehearsal space, residency for visiting artists and more, the area will be built possibilities for the company constrained in its current venue.

Even though the theatre will keep hosting performances in the building located on Marjanishvili Street, the town will open up space for work and educational activities for theatre and related technology.

The company will use the new space afforded by the borough for experimental projects, residency co-productions and more. Photo: netgazeti.ge.

It will be constructed on the road leading from downtown Tbilisi towards the nearby resort town of Kojori.

Expected to be reachable in under 10 minutes by car from the city’s central Freedom Square, the town will encompass an area of 6,000 square metres.

The theatre will launch a contest for the construction of the 5.5 million GEL (2.25 million USD/1.91 million EUR*) project later this year, with the theatre borough anticipated to open in late fall of 2019.

General director Ekaterina Mazmishvili told netgazeti.ge reporters the new project would be a "theatre of a new type” with additional activities outside performance dates.

She also noted it would be used for "large theatrical events” and for involving the theatre’s audience in its activities.

Founded in 1928 by theatre director Kote Marjanishvili, the company is now recognised as one of principal troupes representing Georgia’s theatrical scene.

Initially based in Kutaisi in the country’s west, it has found its home in capital Tbilisi since 1930.

It’s art nouveau building on Marjanishvili Street was renovated and reopened in 2006, while the company also has a wide-ranging touring program.

Their 2012 performance of As You Like It at Shakespeare's Globe in London was given a perfect five-star review by The Guardian.

The British newspaper noted "If all the theatre in Georgia comes anywhere close to the standard of the Marjanishvili company, then the job of theatre critic there must be the most covetable in the land”.

In 2016 the company were awarded financial backing of Creative Europe, a European Commission program, after the project European Theatre Laboratory: Theatre Meets Digital, presented by the Tbilisi-based troupe in partnership with five other European venues, won a contest of the program.

* Currency rates according to today's National Bank of Georgia exchange rate.