Senaki State Drama Theatre Needs Restoration

Inga Gvasalia, Samegrelo

In 2008, Senaki district  Akaki Khorava State Drama Theatre received status of monument of cultural heritage though it was not followed by rehabilitation. Although the building façade was painted nothing was repaired inside.

Senaki Drama Theatre has had problems for several years – water leaks through the roof, walls are cracked, communication system is out of order, the building is not supplied with drinking water, canalization pipes do not work, fire-signalization does not work; sidescenes, dressing up rooms, museum, warehouse and wardrobe need reconstruction. The theater is functioning with the apparatus, which was purchased in 1950s. Ropes of the curtain are old.

“Only two or three out of twenty ropes can be used. Nobody works with similar ropes nowadays. The curtains are faded and almost ragged. During performance, the hall shall be lit with 15-20 bulbs while only 2-3 work. You will not find similar situation even in village clubs,” said performance manager Malkhaz Kortkhonjia.

Actress Eka Kogua described their working process: “It rains on the stage. Sometimes we play with umbrellas during rehearsals. Toilets do not work; there is no heating in the rooms, stage and hall. The building was renovated long ago.”

There is a museum of great Georgian actor Akaki Khorava on the ground floor of the theater. There is terrible dampness there and it damages archive of unique photo-materials. “We work in damp room and have health problems because of it. Nobody pays attention to us. Not to say anything about our health, unique things are being destroyed. We urge the district authority, culture ministry and monument protection to help us; we informed them about our problems but in vain. Can Akaki Khorava’s museum be in similar condition?! Mould has destroyed photos and we suffer from damp,” head of literature department Marina Liponava said in astonishment.

Theater manager Tengiz Topuridze also shares astonishment of his colleagues. “Illumination and sound systems do not work. The stage shall be technically repaired. We shall rearrange sidescenes too. Six years ago, President’s foundation allocated funds and a Zugdidi based company poorly roofed building. The water is still leaking. During the armed conflict of 2008, the theater was bombed and got more demolished. This year everything went out of order – roof, walls and everything.”

Interim Senaki district governor Zurab Tkebuchava justified himself by the fact that local self governmental body does not have right to participate in the restoration of the cultural monument. “We do not have right to interfere in the competence of the Culture Ministry and renovate the theatre.”

Theater manager Tengiz Topuridze intends to meet the Minister of Culture and Monument Protection Guram Odisharia, who was majoritarian candidate of the Georgian Dream in Senaki.  The result of this meeting will become known in future.