Habima Theatre
In 1912, Nahum Lazarevich Tsemakh gathered a group of actors in Białystok to form an amateur troupe. They chose Hebrew for their performances, a decision that immediately drew the attention of Russian authorities. The government banned their work because it invoked Jewish folk traditions and addressed issues facing the Jewish people. This ban forced the group to become a traveling company almost overnight. Menahem Gnessin joined as one of the cofounders during these chaotic early days. By 1918, the troupe operated under the auspices of the Moscow Art Theatre. Some historians consider this partnership to be the theatre's actual beginning rather than its founding year. The Soviet government created difficulties after the Russian Revolution. Joseph Stalin authorized the creation of the theatre through the People's Commissar for Nationalities Affairs. However, the Yevsektsiya attempted to cut off state funds by branding them counter-revolutionary. Konstantin Stanislavsky arranged for the mainly Jewish Polish actors to receive training from Yevgeny Vakhtangov.
The company left the Soviet Union in 1926 to tour abroad. They performed in countries including Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, France, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States. Their productions met with great success across Europe and America. In 1927, the company split up, with Zemach and some of the actors choosing to stay in the U.S. Ivanov, Vladislav documented their history in the YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe. The staff visited the city of Lodz where pre-war photographer Mendel Grossman captured images of the actors. His life changed as a result of the visit of the theatre. He photographed the actors and actresses from the wings of the stage. These photographs remain significant historical records of the troupe during this era. The Moscow Art Theatre influence shaped their acting style significantly. Stanislavsky's methods became central to their artistic identity. This training prepared them for the challenges of international touring.
Other members of the theatre took the company to Mandate Palestine in 1928. During the 1928, 29 season there, the Habima Players presented two plays under the direction of Aleksei Dikiy. The first production, Ha-otsar (The Treasure), premiered on the 29th of December 1928. It was a translation of Sholem Aleichem's Yiddish play Der Oytser. The second production premiered on the 23rd of May 1929, in Tel Aviv. This play was Keter David (David's Crown), an adaptation by Hebrew writer Isaac Lamdan. Lamdan worked from the German translation by Johann Diederich Gries of Calderón de la Barca's The Hair of Absalom. In 1930 the company traveled to Berlin, Germany. They produced Shakespeare's Twelfth Night directed by Michael Chekhov and Karl Gutzkow's Uriel Acosta under Alexander Granovski. The company finally settled in Palestine in 1931. In 1945, it built a theatre in Tel Aviv which it occupied before completion.
Habima has been officially considered the national theatre of Israel since 1958. That same year it received the Israel Prize for theatre. This was the first year in which the Prize was awarded to an organization. Hanna Rovina appeared as Leah in S. Ansky's The Dybbuk during this period. The Hebrew-language translation was done by Hayyim Nahman Bialik. In the 21st century, Habima employs 80 actors. Another 120 staff members work at the complex. The theatre occupies Habima Square in the center of Tel Aviv. It stands as one of the first Hebrew language theatres ever created. The designation as national institution marked a turning point in its history. Organizational growth followed this official recognition steadily over decades.
In January 2012, the theatre reopened after four and a half years of renovations. Architect Ram Karmi was commissioned to redesign the historic building. More than NIS 100 million was invested in the makeover. The project added 500 square meters of floor space and three new rehearsal rooms. The building's four auditoriums were completely rebuilt. Each is a different size and color. Rovina is blue and seats 930 people. Meskin is lavender and seats 320. Bertonov (also known as Bamartef) is green and seats 220. Habima 4 (formerly known as Heineken) is wood panelled and seats 170. Shohat, Zipi reported on the reopening for Haaretz in November 2011. Critics debated the architectural choices during the renovation process. The transformation preserved the historic character while adding modern functionality.
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Common questions
When did Habima Theatre start as an amateur troupe in Białystok?
Habima Theatre started as an amateur troupe in 1912 when Nahum Lazarevich Tsemakh gathered a group of actors in Białystok. The group chose Hebrew for their performances and faced immediate bans from Russian authorities.
Where is the main building of Habima Theatre located today?
The main building of Habima Theatre occupies Habima Square in the center of Tel Aviv, Israel. It serves as one of the first Hebrew language theatres ever created and houses multiple auditoriums including Rovina, Meskin, Bertonov, and Habima 4.
What year did Habima Theatre become the national theatre of Israel?
Habima Theatre became the national theatre of Israel in 1958. That same year it received the Israel Prize for theatre which was the first year the Prize was awarded to an organization.
Who designed the renovation of Habima Theatre that reopened in January 2012?
Architect Ram Karmi was commissioned to redesign the historic building of Habima Theatre before its reopening on the 1st of November 2011. More than NIS 100 million was invested in the makeover which added 500 square meters of floor space and three new rehearsal rooms.