Yerevan Drama Theatre

About

Hrachya Ghaplanyan Drama Theatre (Armenian: Հրաչյա Ղափլանյանի անվան դրամատիկական թատրոն) is a municipal theatre founded in 1967 by Hrachya Ghaplanyan. It is located in the Kentron district of Yerevan, on 28 Isahakyan Street. The theatre has toured Russia, the United States, Georgia, Bulgaria, Poland, England, Romania, and Hungary, and has participated in several Shakespeare festivals. The theatre's program includes both classical and modern works, with over 100 plays having been staged in the theatre. Famous actors who have performed at the theatre include Marie Rose Abousefian, Ashot Ghazaryan, Hrachya Ghazaryan, Rafael Kotanjyan, Evelina Shahiryan, Levon Sharafyan, and Anahit Topchyan. Today, there are 15 performances in the theatre's repertoire.

n 1967, the Armenian Theatrical Company Theatre Studio was established with a performance of Vsevolod Vishnevsky's "An Optimistic Tragedy", directed by Hrachya Ghaplanyan. Two years later, in 1969, it was renamed the Ministry of Culture Yerevan Dramatic Theatre. The studio's artistic director at the time was Hrachya Ghaplanyan. [c] The Hrachya Ghaplanyan Drama Theatre has been a vital part of Armenia's cultural scene since its founding. Recognized for its contributions to the Armenian theatrical development, the theatre has helped shape Armenian drama by supporting talented playwrights, directors, and actors. Over the years, it has brought both classic and modern plays to life, presenting both traditional and contemporary works. The theatre has hosted numerous plays that have contributed to the cultural and social aspect of Armenia. The theatre's history, artistic journey, and lasting impact on Armenian and international theatre are the most fundamental points for it. The theater is called the Dramatic Theater due to its ability to incorporate multiple theatrical directions within a single venue. The Hrachya Ghaplanyan Drama Theatre was established during the Soviet era, when cultural institutions were influenced by state ideology, while remaining as a place where artistic expressionism was practiced. The theater director Hrachya Ghaplanyan had an idea for a theater with creative and technical standards, a place where Armenian and foreign dramas coexisted. His primary purpose for establishing the theater was to provide a space that did not adhere to any particular theatrical style. The founding of the theatre was part of a broader effort in Soviet Armenia to preserve national identity through the arts, despite political limitations. Originally, the theatre did not have its own building. Its performances took place on the stage of the Yerevan City Soviet council building, which was not initially intended for theatrical productions. However, as the theatre grew in reputation and importance, the government eventually assigned the building to officially become a theatre, the building was officially redesigned and it became a regular venue for theater performances in Yerevan. Its design does not accommodate the technical and spatial requirements of a modern theater, making it difficult to stage productions effectively. One of the major issues is accessibility, where viewers must go all the way to the third floor of the building in order to access the stage. Additionally, the lack of proper infrastructure affects both spectators and performers, limiting the overall functionality of the facility for theater performances.

== The Role of the Yerevan Dramatic Theatre in the Post-Ghaplanyan Era == After Ghaplanyan, the Yerevan Dramatic Theatre, broadened its repertory and adjusted to new theatrical trends. The theatre continued developing, incorporating both classic Armenian plays and new foreign plays into its repertoire [a]. It started focusing on performances with social and political content, also presenting new theatrical techniques that are influenced by contemporary trends.

Adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA). Photography via Wikimedia Commons.