Academic National Drama Theatre S. Chanba

The Academic National Drama Theatre S. Chanba in Sukhumi is a theatre building featuring a 700-seat auditorium designed for dramatic performances. The structure includes radio translation systems that enable multilingual productions for diverse audiences.

The theatre was originally established in 1912 within the Grand Hotel and later reconstructed in 1952 following architect M. Chkhikvadze's design in the Stalin Empire style. This major rebuild transformed the venue into its current form.

The theatre presents productions ranging from Shakespeare and Gogol to contemporary Abkhaz authors, maintaining a balance between classical and regional dramatic works.

The venue provides modern translation equipment that allows Russian-speaking audiences to follow performances in their native language. This accessibility feature makes the theatre welcoming to visitors from the wider region.

The institution bears the name of Samson Chanba, a dramatist who died in 1937 after writing the first play in the Abkhaz language. His work 'Amkhadzyr' remains a landmark in Abkhaz literary history.

Location: Sukhumi

Inception: 1930

GPS coordinates: 42.99985,41.02527

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:40