National Theatre Day is celebrated in Azerbaijan

The 153rd anniversary of the establishment of the Azerbaijani professional national theater is being celebrated.

As reported by BAKU.WS, by the decree of President Ilham Aliyev dated March 1, 2013, National Theater Day is celebrated annually on March 10 in Azerbaijan. This date was not chosen by chance. On March 10, 1873, a performance based on the comedy "The Adventures of the Vizier of the Lankaran Khanate" by Mirza Fatali Akhundzade was staged in Baku. This first amateur performance, staged by students of a real school on the initiative of Hasan bey Zardabi and Najaf bey Vezirov, laid the foundation of the national theater.

A significant contribution to the development of the national theater was also made by the famous philanthropist Haji Zeynalabdin Taghiyev, who financed the construction of the first theater building in Baku.

Soon, a constellation of such brilliant actors as Huseyngulu Sarabsky, Huseyn Arablinsky, Ulvi Rajab, Abbas Mirza Sharifzade, Mirza Agha Aliyev, Mustafa Mardanov, Alasgar Alakbarov, Aghasadyg Garaybayly, Leyla Badirbayly, Nasiba Zeynalova, and others emerged on the Azerbaijani theatrical stage.

Performances organized at that time by the Azerbaijani intelligentsia in Baku, Shusha, Sheki, Lankaran, Nakhchivan, Tiflis, and Irevan played an important role in the cultural life of these cities.

Always distinguished by its active stance, Azerbaijani theater was at the forefront of public thought, exerting a significant influence on the cultural progress of society and the development of national consciousness. Outstanding representatives of the history of our literary thought used the theatrical stage as a high oratorial platform for addressing the people.

Azerbaijani theater, having traveled a long and glorious path, has entered a new stage of its development in recent years, which has primarily manifested itself in the strengthening of the material and technical base, the renewal of the repertoire, the expansion of the geography of tours, etc.

The establishment of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic (ADR) led to a revitalization of national theater activities. As a result of active state assistance and involvement, important qualitative changes occurred in the development of Azerbaijani theater. New works related to the history of Azerbaijan and the national liberation struggle were included in its repertoire. One of the purposeful steps taken by the republic's government in this area was the organization of the Azerbaijan State Theater.

This meant that the Azerbaijani professional theater received state status. The curtain of this theater was first raised on November 4, 1918, with a performance of Nariman Narimanov's historical tragedy "Nadir Shah."

During the years of Soviet rule, theatrical art in Azerbaijan underwent further development. Alongside works glorifying Soviet ideology and the regime, works about the life of the people, their customs, and historical past were widely represented in the repertoires.

During the years of independence of the Republic of Azerbaijan, national leader Heydar Aliyev paid great attention to the development of theatrical art, and his successor, President Ilham Aliyev, worthily continued his father's work. Thus, in 2006, the law "On Theater and Theatrical Activities" was adopted. In 2007, the head of state signed a decree "On the Development of Azerbaijani Theatrical Art," and on May 18, 2009, approved the State Program "Azerbaijani Theater in 2009-2019."

Within the framework of this program, international conferences are held in Baku, theaters undergo major renovations, their material and technical base is updated, anniversaries of outstanding theater figures are solemnly celebrated, etc. Over the past years, our theaters have toured in more than 30 countries around the world.