Batumi Summer theatre

History of the Batumi Summer Theater

The Summer Theater first appeared on the seaside boulevard of Batumi in the mid-20th century—specifically in 1947. Its architects, K. I. Dzhavakhishvili and B. M. Kirakosyan, received the second prize at the All-Union Competition for their theater design.

The Batumi Summer Theater was designed to accommodate 800 people and was made of wood. The theater was decorated with quadruple columns featuring intricate carvings, arches, vaulted ceilings, ornate doors, and a high pediment. The side facades had openings that were covered with tarpaulins. According to eyewitnesses, when a performance was sold out, people who couldn’t get in would move aside the drapery and watch the shows or variety acts from outside.

For over 50 years, the Batumi Summer Theater was a symbol of the city, and many locals compared its elegant structure to the magical ship Argo. During the Soviet era and the 1990s, the theater regularly hosted plays. Unfortunately, in 2001, a fire destroyed the wooden structure of this historic building.

It took 12 years to restore the theater, and it reopened in 2013, with its capacity increased to 1,100 spectators. The architect of the new, resurrected Summer Theater was Gocha Garuchava.

The new building combines elements of the original 1947 architecture with modern design solutions. This beautiful and elegant structure draws attention with its unique design, use of multicolored wood, carved patterns, and, in contrast to the original, a larger number of windows.