Rustaveli Theatre, National theatre in central Tbilisi, Georgia
Rustaveli Theatre is a cultural venue in Georgia's capital city with three stages and multiple performance spaces. The building displays ornate interiors with restored frescoes by Georgian artists adorning the halls, which feature red velvet seating and gilded detailing.
Plans for the building took shape in the late 1800s when a wealthy merchant provided funding to create a centre for Georgian artists. The completed theatre soon became the city's leading performance venue and has retained that role ever since.
The theatre is named after Georgia's greatest medieval poet and occupies a central place in the city's cultural life. Visitors can observe how the ornate halls and corridors serve as a gathering space for people throughout Tbilisi.
The theatre sits on a busy street in the city centre and has a ticket counter right at the entrance for visitors. Since performances happen throughout the year, visiting is worthwhile any season, but checking the schedule beforehand is a good idea.
During renovations in the early 2000s, original frescoes were discovered beneath layers of white paint that had hidden them for decades. These rediscovered artworks now display the building's original artistic vision once more.
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