The history of the Armenian theater dates back to about 70 BC. The Greek historian Plutarch attests that the first historically known theater in Armenia was built during the reign of Tigran the Great. He opened a great public theater in 69 B.C. in Tigranakert, fourteen years before Pompey’s first public theater.
Metaksia Simonyan
Testimonies of numerous historians on Armenian theater are persistent and tell how theater maintained its existence throughout centuries, despite invasions and upheavals in the region.
Today’s Armenian theater is heir to traditions that were cultivated under Ottoman rule, Tsarist Russia, the Soviet regime. Armenian theatrical tradition has had its ups and downs before passing on as cultural heritage to today’s Armenia.
Let’s take a look at current numbers. How many theaters are there in Armenia? How often do people go to the theater? How has attendance changed over the years?
Mnagian Drama Troupe
The latest comprehensive data is from 2014. At the time, there were 28 theaters in Armenia; 17 dramatic theaters, 4 musical theaters, 5 puppet theaters in addition to the Yerevan State theater of the Young Spectator and the Circus.
Since 2009, the number of theaters in Armenia remains unchanged.
In 2014, 26 out of the 28 theaters staged performances.
Overall, there were 2665 plays, 32% of which were puppet shows and 16% musicals.
Out of the 2665, only 46 performance, that is 2% of the overall number were staged in rural areas, attended by 5674 people. There are no theaters in the regions of Armavir, Vayots Dzor, Tavush and Aragatsotn.
Bedros Atamian
In 2014, 480 260 people attended plays, 21% of them attended a musical, and 20% – puppet theater.
Compared to 2009, there has been only 9% growth in the number of plays, but attendance increased by 31%.
According to recent research in Armenia, four in five said that have not gone to the cinema or seen a play in the past six months.
The National Statistical Service, armstat.am
Caucasus Research Resource Centers, Caucasus Barometer,crrc.am
