Rezo Gabriadze Marionette Theater

The Rezo Gabriadze Marionette Theater was conceived and brought to life in 1981 by the legendary Georgian artist, playwright, director, and sculptor Rezo Gabriadze—the creative force behind beloved Soviet-era films such as Kin-dza-dza, Mimino, and Don’t Grieve!

His films became cultural cornerstones, and quotes from Gabriadze’s scripts echoed through the vastness of the Soviet Union. It’s hard to find a single adult from the post-Soviet world who hasn’t uttered or at least heard the iconic lines: “Ku!” or “I want Larisa Ivanovna.”

But Gabriadze did not stop at cinema. With the foundation of his marionette theater, he entered a new creative chapter. First and foremost, he saw himself as an artist. To him, every performance begins not with a script, but with the birth of a puppet—crafted by hand, steeped in the essence of its creator’s imagination. Only once this silent character is formed can it breathe and move upon the stage.

One of the theater’s most striking symbols is its Clock Tower, now a beloved landmark in Tbilisi and a magnet for photographers and travelers from around the world.

Over nearly four decades, the theater has toured internationally to great acclaim. Rezo Gabriadze’s productions have graced stages at major theater festivals across Russia, Europe, and the United States.

Now well into his eighties, the maestro still often appears after performances—either in the auditorium or at the theater’s cozy café—to speak with guests. As he reflects, “Puppetry is a medieval art. Its beauty lies in the fact that in our chemical, electric, cybernetic world, there is still something made by human hands. And people feel that—it touches them.”

The theater’s ornate façade bears a Latin inscription in golden letters: Extra cepam nihil cogito nos lacrimare, which means, “May onions be the only reason we cry.”

Tickets are best purchased in advance, as performances frequently sell out. They can be bought directly at the theater’s box office or online by selecting your preferred seats. To check availability, call +995 322 98 65 90 or +995 591 02 44 02, or email ticketsgabriadze@gmail.com. Ticket prices range from 10 to 30 GEL.

Performances are held in both Georgian and Russian, and all are accompanied by English subtitles.

Visit the official website of the Rezo Gabriadze Theater to explore its repertoire, follow news updates, and delve into the fascinating life and legacy of this remarkable Georgian artist and director.

While the Gabriadze Marionette Theater doesn’t boast an extensive repertoire, its performances are in such high demand that securing a ticket requires early planning. With only 80 seats in the venue, shows sell out quickly. Of the six plays that Gabriadze envisioned and staged, four are currently in active rotation. In addition to these, the theater regularly screens a biographical film about Gabriadze titled Do You Know, Mama, Where I’ve Been?

Described by the director as a song in theatrical form, this production pays tribute to his grandmother and the somber post-war years in the wounded yet unbroken city of Kutaisi. Though hardship and hunger loomed large, people held fast to life and love, their inner nobility giving them the strength to endure. The central figure, a tiny bird with a great heart named Borya Gadai, becomes the last hope and joy of Grandma Domna—ushering in a tale of both peril and delight.

This singular requiem performance was named Best Play of 2010 by The New Yorker. Gabriadze’s inspiration stemmed from the notes of a British war correspondent who visited the battlefield after the siege of Stalingrad. A somber elegy, the play weaves together the fates of all beings caught in the six-month siege—not only humans, but also horses and even ants—each bearing silent witness to history’s darkest hours.

A beautiful and tragic love story between two steam locomotives, Ramona reveals the poetic soul of machines. Maestro Gabriadze believed locomotives could blush, their smoke glowing pink under the last rays of the sun.

The piece was inspired by a line from Rudyard Kipling: “Excepting the steam engine, the locomotive is the most sensitive thing made by man.” Alongside the tender love of engines, the play also dives into the enchanting world of the traveling circus—two motifs tied to the lost “paradise” of a Georgian boy’s childhood.

This boisterous buffoonery is a comedic continuation of Khanuma—a tale of romance, schemes, and serendipity. A Georgian prince receives a telegram announcing the death of his uncle in Paris, along with an inheritance of a massive diamond. He sets off for France, only to be swept into a whirlwind of unexpected adventures and noble love.

Filmed in 2017 from a script by Gabriadze himself, this biographical movie is a nostalgic return to the wonder of childhood—a time when fear was absent, dreams ran wild, and everything felt possible. It’s a heartfelt reflection on the days when one could soar in a fighter jet or conquer any mountaintop.

Adjoining the theater stands the now-iconic Clock Tower, erected in 2010. At its base, multicolored tiles hand-painted by Rezo Gabriadze create a whimsical mosaic.

Crooked, tilted, and supported by a steel beam, the tower appears to defy architectural logic. But this eccentric silhouette is intentional—a stylized homage to the aged houses that surround it in the heart of Tbilisi.

Every hour, an angel with golden wings emerges from a tiny door and strikes a bell with a hammer. At noon and at 7 PM, the shutters swing open, a melody plays, and a puppet show titled The Cycle of Life begins—portraying the stages of human existence: birth, childhood, youth, maturity, old age, and, finally, death.

Rezo Gabriadze Marionette Theater
📍 Address: 13 Shavteli Street, Tbilisi, Georgia
🕰 Box Office Hours: Daily from 12:00 to 19:00
🎟 Ticket Price: From 10 to 30 GEL
📞 Phone (Box Office): +995 (32) 2-98-65-90, +995 (591) 02-44-02
📧 Email: ticketsgabriadze@gmail.com
🌐 Website: http://gabriadze.com

Performances are held in Georgian and Russian, with English subtitles provided.