Georgia: The Ministry of Culture and Sports of Georgia has announced the competition winners: “Promotion of theaters operating in the field of ministry administration with stage and tour expenses.”
The competition’s budget is 260,000 GEL, and it aims to promote the popularization, functioning, and development of the creative process of up to 30 professional theaters in the Ministry of Culture and Sports of Georgia’s sphere of governance.
Thirteen projects were funded out of 16 applications in the competition.
The following projects won the competition:
- Nodar Dumbadze’s “Kukaracha” – a joint performance based on Nodar Dumbaadze’s ‘Kukaracha’ was funded by Ozurgeti and Azerbaijan. By Ganja State Drama Theaters. The play will be shown first in the Ozurgeti State Dramatic Theater and then in Azerbaijan. In Ganja State Dramatic Theater; Director – Vasil Chigogidze (Executor – SIP Ozurgeti’s Alexander Tsutsunava Professional State Dramatic Theatre);
- Play “Khalde” – the tour of Dmanisi Theater in Lentekhi was financed with the play “Khalde”: Director – Giorgi Sikharulidze (Director – Dmanisi State Professional Dramatic Theater named after Zinaida Kverenchkhiladze);
- William Shakespeare’s “Timon Atheneli” – The staging of William Shakespeare’s play “Timon Ateneli” was funded. It is meaningful that this play has yet to be staged in Georgia. Producing director – Ioane (Vano) Khutsishvili (Executor – SSP Mikheil Tumanishvili State Theater);
- “Gushindelni” – the performance based on Shalva Dadiani’s play “Gushindellni” was financed; Director – Giorgi Kashia (executor – SP K. State Professional Dramatic Theater named after Shalva Dadiani of Zugdidi);
- “Ivane Machabeli – 170” – a performance was funded on the occasion of the 170th anniversary of Ivane Machabeli, based on the collage of Shakespeare’s plays “Bloody Chronicles” translated by Ivan Machabeli; Production director – Gocha Kapanadze (Director – SSP Tskhinvali’s Ivane Machabli State Dramatic Theater);
- Gori Theater Days in Adjara – funded tour of Gori Theater in Adjara, with performances: “I will come – dream,” directed by Nikoloz Heine-Shvelidze and Ilia chavchavadze’s “Otaraant Widow”; produced by Giorgi Tenadze (executor – SP Giorgi Eristavi’s professional state dramatic theater);
- Tour of Chiaturi Professional State Dramatic Theater in Ozurgeti, Senaki, and Tbilisi with performances “Darispan’s Trouble,” director – Gocha Kapanadze, “Innocent Story,” director – David Nikoladze, “Boshebi,” director – Koba Skhiladze (Executor – Professional State Dramatical Theater of Chiaturi named after Akaki Tsereteli);
- “First they died, and then they got married” – on the occasion of Rafiel Eristavi’s 200th anniversary, the performance was funded (in the Georgian language); Director – Turgai Velizade (executor – Tbilisi Azerbaijani Professional State Dramatic Theater named after SP Heydar Aliyev);
- “Butia” – the production of director and artist Vakhtang Koridze’s performance “Butia” was funded (executor – Tbilisi Giorgi Mikeladze’s Professional State Theater of Puppets, which is part of the Association of Professional State Theaters of Georgia);
- “Murder of Gonzago” by Nedialko Yordanov – financed production of the play “Gonzago’s Murder”; director – Moldova People’s Artist, founder of the National Theater of “Ezhen Ionesco,” Petru Vutkarau (executor – SP city). Professional State Dramatic Theater named after Lado Meskhishvili of Kutaisi);
- Tour of Poti Theater in the cultural centers and public theaters of three cities of Georgia – funded tour in Mestia, Gurjaani, and Sighnaghi with performances: “Storm,” “Love Love” – Director Saba Aslamazishvili, “Jako’s Khiznebi” – Director Nika Chikvaidze and “Cheers to Bushon” – Director Irakli Gurgenidze (Executor – SP city. Professional State Theater named after Valerian Gunia of Poti);
- Play “Love in the Telebkvesh” – funded to staging a play based on the play “Love in the TV” by American playwright Eugene O’Neill; Director – Giorgi Chaladze (Director – State Dramatic Theater named after SP Kote Marjanishvili);
- Charles Peru’s “Konkia” – funded New Year’s play “Konkya” at Senaki Professional State Dramatic Theater; Director – Vakhtang Nikolava (Director – Senaki Akaki Khorava Professional State Dramatic Theater).
For information, in 2023, the Ministry of Culture allocated 260,000 GEL, and seven projects were financed. In 2022, the competition’s budget was 250 000 GEL, and 11 projects were funded. In 2021, 150,000 GEL was allocated for the competition, and nine projects were financed.
