The FINANCIAL — Georgian theatres are having a launch to represent premiers in their theatres following the dead season. Rustaveli Theatre has already offered three premiers with USD 6-14 thousand budgets: The Accusation, Other Georgia, Styx and an additional five performances will be represented by the end of this year with the same budgets.
Theatrical Basement will be offering its spectators three new plays with USD 2 000 budgets by November 2007.
According to Tina Kakhadze, the manager of Rustaveli’s Theatrical Basement, the beginning of the season is always very difficult.
“Theatrical Basement is self financed. The government does not support the theatre. Our main means of financing is the profit from the tickets we sell, however today the hall of our theatre is relatively empty of spectators,” Tina Kakhadze, Manager of Rustaveli’s Theatrical Basement told The FINANCIAL.
“To keep a theatre running is very difficult today, but Rustaveli manages it, as the government helps the theatre in financing. Rustaveli Theatre is a governmental theatre and so it is not surprising. The biggest problem is utility payments,” Zaal Chikobava, the Head of Rustaveli Theatre declared to The FINANCIAL.
“If expenses are made correctly, then there are always money gains and profits, so the most important thing is to spend expenses correctly. For the theatre it is profitable to spend money in staging new plays and making good promotional and advertising campaigns in advance, so as to see returns later. Unfortunately this theatre does not have Golden Sponsors, which is due to a difference in opinions, as the theatre’s demands and sponsors’ requirements don’t coincide with one another,” Chikobava added.
“Unfortunately Georgian spectators are losing interest in the theatrical arts and our actors and actresses have very low salaries. There are some cases where actors receive just GEL 3-8 for a three hour long performance. Besides this salary deficit, the theatre has to pay communal payments and additional sources are required. Sadly Theatrical Basement is in a real financial crisis at the moment,” Kakhadze said.
“Theatrical Basement was founded in 1997, this was a period when Rustaveli Theatre was closed because of multiple repairs and there were several problems with Marjanishvili Theatre as well, so the only theatre operating was Theatrical Basement. This theatre returned young spectators’ interest in the art. However even though it has a number of loyal spectators today, the number is severely decreased compared to previous years,” Kakhadze added.
According to Chikobava, the approximate salary of Rustaveli Theatre staff is GEL 350 up to 800.
The staff force of Theatrical Basement consists of 25 persons. Actors and actresses are invited from other theatres and their presence mostly depends on the author of a play. The price of a ticket is usually GEL 10. Over the last three years the price of tickets has doubled. Three years ago they cost GEL 5.
According to Chikobava, Rustaveli Theatre’s ticket prices vary. They start from GEL 2 and range up to GEL 15. A price growth took place three years ago and now the theatre is trying to keep it stable.
“Today people are able to pay this price for a good performance, but if the price grows much then the average theatre lover will no longer be able to afford the price of entrance. Rustaveli Theatre sometimes has special projects and performances and accordingly the tickets of these special projects are always higher than normal,” Chikobava declared.
“The budget has grown and consists of GEL 1 450 000. The profits have grown by 20-25%. The number of tickets sold is 10 000 a month. The leader performance by the number of sold tickets is Kacia Adamiani?! and The 12th Night of Christmas.”
According to Kakhadze, Theatrical Basement sells 1 500 tickets every month. The leading performances according to the tickets sales index are Khanuma, and Three Coin Opera.
“The budget of a performances ranges from GEL 14 thousand up to GEL 55 thousand, it depends on the stage and space in which the play will be staged. These prices include actors and actresses and authors’ honoraries. The most expensive performance is The 12th Night of Christmas,” Chikobava said.
“Theatrical Basement has performances with GEL 800-900 budgets. Though the necessary sum is GEL 5 000. The numbers of actors do not decrease in the case of small budget performances. The plays with small budgets are no less interesting than high budget performances. Every year Theatrical Basement has more than 6-7 premiers,” Kakhadze said.
“Theatrical Basement has only a pit and the hall is available for 105 people. 70-80 spectators attend the performances as a rule. Despite its crisis, Theatrical Basement gives special discounts to schools and students,” Kakhadze added.
“Rustaveli Theatre occupies 33 thousands sq/m. It has three stages. The big stage hall can hold 786 people, the small stage is available for 250 and the experimental stage is available for 182 persons,” Chikobava declared.
According to Kakhadze, the most profitable season for Theatrical Basement is in November, December and January when 80% of the Georgian population visit the theatre.
