The Golden City

On 29 November 1929, in what is now the House of Officers, the curtain of the first children's theatre rose for its ceremonial opening, with a production of G. Smirnov's play "Paytyun" ("Explosion"), headed by the director and actor T. Shamirkhanyan. In 1940 the theatre performed in Moscow and was warmly received. From the 1950s the theatre was headed by H. Yeranosyan. In 1958 the theatre took part in a Moscow festival, and 19 members of its creative company became laureates of the festival. The theatre reached new heights and successes during the tenure of its principal director H. Ghaplanyan as well. The productions shown at the Transcaucasian festivals of children's theatres held in Yerevan and Baku in 1961 and 1968 brought the theatre new success. In 1980 the theatre's 50th anniversary was celebrated with great ceremony, and the theatre received a high government award. The theatre's artistic director was Ye. Ghazanchyan, People's Artist of the Republic of Armenia and State Prize laureate. In 1997-2017 Hakob Ghazanchyan was appointed artistic director of the theatre. Since 1 September 2017 the theatre's artistic director has been David Harutyunyan.