Rustaveli National Theatre, Tbilisi

The Rustaveli National Theatre, situated on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi, is the country's largest and one of its oldest theaters. It was established in 1887 and has been named after Georgia's national poet, Rustaveli, since 1921. The theater occupies an elaborate Rococo-style building.

Originally known as the "Artists' Society," the theater's construction began in 1887. Renowned artists, including Lado Gudiashvili, David Kakabadze, and Serge Sudeikin, were commissioned to create frescoes in the basement. Mose and Iracly Toidze later joined the project. Sadly, the Soviet era led to the whitewashing of the magnificent frescoes in the lower level of Rustaveli Theatre, with only a small portion restored.

In 1921, the theater was renamed Rustaveli Theatre and was constructed with the financial support of Alexander Mantashev. The design of the building was created by Cornell K. Tatishchev and Aleksander Szymkiewicz, who was the Municipal Architect of Tbilisi at the time. From 2002 to 2005, the theater underwent an extensive renovation.

The theater consists of three stages: the main stage with approximately 800 seats, the small stage with 283 seats, and a Black Box Theatre with 182 seats, which is used for experimental performances. Additionally, the theater provides spaces for conferences and events, including a large ballroom, a small ballroom, and a small foyer.