Rustaveli Theatre, Tbilisi, Georgia

Standing: High
Rank: Rank 68 of 3,657

Reviewed by Elena Voss · Roavina Travel Editor

About Rustaveli Theatre

The Shota Rustaveli State Academic Theatre on Rustaveli Avenue is the largest and one of the oldest theatres in Georgia. Housed in an ornate Rococo-style building, it was founded in 1887 and has carried the name of Georgia's national poet Shota Rustaveli since 1921. Its construction was funded by Alexander Mantashev, and it was designed by Cornell K. Tatishchev and Aleksander Szymkiewicz, Tbilisi's municipal architect. The theatre was thoroughly renovated from 2002 to 2005.

Checked 2026-11-10 · Source

What's inside

The theatre has three stages: the main stage with about 800 seats, the small stage with 283 seats and a Black Box Theatre with 182 seats for experimental work. In the basement, the Artists' Society commissioned frescoes on the walls and ceilings from the Georgian painters Lado Gudiashvili and David Kakabadze and the set designer Serge Sudeikin, later joined by Mose and Iracly Toidze. The frescoes were whitewashed in the Soviet period, and only a small part has been restored.

Checked 2026-11-10 · Source

Tickets

Besides performances, the Rustaveli National Theatre Museum organises guided tours for adults and students, foreign guests and anyone interested. A tour introduces the history of the building and the theatre, the Chimerion and the museum. For tour details the theatre gives the number (+995 322) 98 40 51; ticket reservations for performances are on 2 72 68 68. The theatre's address is 17 Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi.

Checked 2026-11-10 · Source

Place details and sources

Address: შოთა რუსთაველის გამზირი, 17 OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Type of place: Theatre OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
Established: 1921 Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Architect: Aleksander Szymkiewicz Wikidata · Checked 2026-09-09
Wikipedia article: Rustaveli Theatre Wikipedia · Checked 2026-09-09

Official site Official source · Checked 2026-11-10
+995 32 272 68 68 OpenStreetMap · Checked 2026-09-09
View on Wikidata

Common questions

Can you tour the Rustaveli Theatre?

Yes. The theatre's museum organises tours for adults, students, foreign guests and anyone interested.

How many stages does the theatre have?

Three: the main stage (about 800 seats), the small stage (283 seats) and a Black Box Theatre (182 seats).

Where is the Rustaveli Theatre?

At 17 Rustaveli Avenue, Tbilisi.

When was the theatre founded?

In 1887; it has carried the name of the poet Shota Rustaveli since 1921.

Where it is

Open directions in Google Maps

Nearby

Within 3 min on foot

1 hr 30 min
2 min walk
Giorgi Leonidze State Museum of Literature
- Must see
- Museum
2 hours
2 min walk
Rustaveli Avenue
- Must see
- Activity
1 hr 30 min
3 min walk
National Gallery of Georgia
- Must see · Heritage site
- Museum