Georgia: Zestafoni Theater hosts premier of play Suliko

Tbilisi: The Zestafoni’s Ushangi Chkheidze Professional State Dramatic Theater hosted the premiere of the play “Suliko”, based on the biography of Varinka Tsereteli. The event was attended by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Youth of Georgia Thea Tsulukiani, State Trustee in Imereti Zviad Shalamberidze and the representatives of Zestafoni Municipality.

Varinka Machavarian-Tsereteli’s “Suliko” is a national identity anthem for Georgians, a melody that has become a song for everyone. Varinka Barbare Machavariani, was born in the village Tskhratskaro of Zestafoni district. 

Varinka Tsereteli graduated from Kutaisi Women’s Gymnasium and got musical education with Filimon Koridze’s wife, Zinaida Vorobetsi.

She was an active member of the community of writing and reading, one of the organizers of the opening of the library in Zestafoni and the initiator of the theater restoration, but, despite many other years, her name is connected firstly with the ribbon guitar and the melody of the most popular Georgian song – “Suliko”, sung in almost all languages of the world.

The idea of reviving Varinka Tsereteli’s biography on stage belongs to the artistic director of Zestafoni Theater, Vakhtang Jughel. The play, by Ninia Sadghobelashvili, is based on the biographical material of the author of the melody “Suliko” and tells us unknown stories from the life of this extraordinary woman; in addition, it gives information about the Imereti of that era.

Historian Nodar Turmanidze obtained historical-documentary material for the play. The director of the play is Giorgi Sikharulidze. Actors of Zestafoni and Dmanisi’s Zinaida Kverenchkhiladze Professional State Dramatic Theater participate in the joint project.