Shakespeare exhibition at the Rustaveli National Theatre

An exhibition of Shakespeare theatre posters, costume designs, and stage designs in the Rustaveli National Theatre marked the last day of the Shakespeare 450 International Conference in Tbilisi, Georgia, on May 3. The exhibition and conference were dedicated to the 450^th anniversary of the birth of William Shakespeare (1564-1616) and organized by the Ivane Javakhaishvili Tbilisi State University (TSU) Centre for Shakespeare Studies and the Rustaveli National Theatre. The exhibition was called Shakespeare on the Stage at Rustaveli Theatre.

The grand theatre was founded in 1879, and changed its name to Shota Rustaveli State Drama Theatre – named after Georgia’s famous poet – in 1921, but it is more commonly called the Rustaveli Theatre. The building has a Rococo, late Baroque style façade with ornate gold and cream curved ceilings in the foyer. It was recently renovated from 2002-2005, and includes 3 stages – the main theatre (about 800 seats), the small theatre (about 300 seats), and a black box theatre (with 182 seats).

The first play was David Eristavi’s The Homeland in 1882 and the first play by William Shakespeare was performed in 1895.

MARTINA NICOLLS is an international aid and development consultant, and the author of:- Similar But Different in the Animal Kingdom (2017), The Shortness of Life: A Mongolian Lament (2015), Liberia’s Deadest Ends (2012), Bardot’s Comet (2011), Kashmir on a Knife-Edge (2010) and The Sudan Curse (2009).

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