Gomel Regional Drama Theater is the heart of Gomel's stage art. Here you can see the most modern and large-scale plays, relevant performances and just enjoy the wonderful game of talented actors.
Construction history
The history of the Gomel Drama Theater began even before the erection of a modern building, which fans of the stage activity of the city of Gomel are used to seeing. The foundation was laid in 1939, when the Gomel Russian Drama Theater was created. Due to the active development of theatrical art, it was decided to build another building, which was planned to be commissioned by 1941. Unfortunately, the war amended architects' plans; the construction of the Gomel Drama Theater was postponed indefinitely.
This is not to say that theatrical life has lost its relevance. Even despite the beginning of World War II, a team of people who were not indifferent to art created a theater on the front, which toured most of the cities with various performances and concerts.
Modern history
In 1954, with the resumption of construction, the modern stage of the life of the Gomel Drama Theater begins. Under the leadership of the Ukrainian architect Alexander Tarasenko and academician Ivan Zholtovsky, a peculiar building was built, the appearance of which has been preserved to this day. The auditorium was designed for 570 people. The opening date of the modern Gomel Drama Theater can be considered November 6, 1954, when, after a long absence from their native land, the theater team returned home and played the first serious performance entitled “Years of Wandering” based on the play by the famous playwright Alexei Arbuzov in the new building.
Theater Features
A distinctive feature of the Gomel Drama Theater is that it was built before the ban on construction excesses, which makes it look much better than modern theater buildings. The first thing that catches your eye is the facade, on which six-column porticoes of a composite order with a pediment are installed. During the construction of the building on its front part, a drawing of the Spasskaya Tower of the Moscow Kremlin was made, which can be seen even with the naked eye. Above the outline stands a sculpture of the patroness of the theater - the goddess Melpomene, who holds a laurel wreath in her outstretched right hand. Absolutely the entire building, without exception, is decorated around the perimeter with figures of musical attributes and various elements of ancient traditional architecture. The theater’s auditorium is designed for 800 spectators and, which is characteristic of many scenic buildings, it is divided into stalls and balconies.
Theater life
Throughout the history of the Gomel Drama Theater, many famous actors and directors worked in it. One of the most famous leaders was the Belarusian writer Vladimir Korotkevich, who led several years in Gomel and Belarus. The theater is famous for staging performances in different languages.
On the basis of the drama theater, not only performances are shown, but also every three years the International Festival "Slavic Theater Scenes" is held, which is unprecedentedly popular among art lovers.
The Gomel Drama Theater is one of the most interesting sights of Belarus, which every year attracts the attention of not only Belarusian spectators, but also guests from different countries. The convenient location of the theater in the city center, a chic reputation, an excellent acting performance of the team have provided popularity for many years.