Regional Kazhak Drama Theatre Abai, State theatre in Taraz, Kazakhstan

The Regional Kazakh Drama Theatre Abai occupies a purpose-built venue in Taraz, to which the company moved in 1965. Its stage has hosted M. Auezov's "Kara Kipshak Koblandy", first staged here in 1944 under director B. Lurye, and the theatre has been named after Abai since 1945.

The theatre was established as a performing arts center and named after Abay Kunanbaiuly, a 19th-century writer who shaped Kazakh literature. The naming honors his lasting impact on the nation's cultural development.

The theatre's name honours Abai Kunanbaiuly, and its repertoire has long centred on M. Auezov's plays, including "Karakypchak Koblandy", first staged here in 1944 under B. Lurye. Works by G. Musrepov and translated classics by Gogol and Shakespeare are also performed. Since 2014 the director has been the poet and playwright Bolat Bekzhanov.

The theatre stands on the north side of central Taraz, near the intersection of Abai Avenue and Zheltoksan Street, a short walk from the city's main square. The auditorium seats spectators on a single raked level facing the proscenium stage, so seats in the middle rows give the fullest view. The building has a step-free entrance from the street side.

The building blends regional design principles with modern international theatre construction standards. This combination makes it a meeting point between local tradition and global architectural practices.