Description of the attraction
The Yakub Kolas National Academic Drama Theater was opened in 1926 on the basis of a studio that existed in 1921-26 at the Gorky Moscow Art Theater. It was originally called the Belarusian Second State Theater. On November 21, 1926, the premiere of the first performance of the new theater based on I. Ben's play "In the Old Times" took place.
During the Great Patriotic War, the theater was evacuated and worked first in Uralsk, and then in Orekhovo-Zuev. In 1944, upon returning to his native Vitebsk, the theater was awarded the name of Yakub Kolas for achievements in the development of national culture. In 1946 the theater was awarded the Stalin Prize for the performance "Nesterka" by V. Volsky.
In 1958, a theater building was built on Teatralnaya Square (now the 1000th anniversary of Vitebsk). It was built according to the project of architects A. Maksimov and I. Ryskina. The building is built in the form of an eight-column Doric portico with a triangular pediment. The three-tiered auditorium with a parterre and two balconies can accommodate 758 spectators.
In 1977 the theater was awarded the title of academic, in 2001 - national. In 1985, a puppet art studio appeared in the theater, which in 1990 gave rise to the Belarusian puppet theater "Lyalka".
Currently, the theater is staging both plays by Belarusian playwrights and classical works. In 2012, the theater opened its 87th season. The theater director is Honored Artist of Belarus Grigory Shatko. The artistic director is the honored art worker of Belarus Vitaly Barkovsky.
