The National Theatre of Albania celebrated its 80th anniversary on May 17, 2025. It opened in 1945 as the first professional Albanian theater. In fact, Sokrat Mio directed the first play, Topazi. This play became the theater’s founding performance.

Last night, the theater held a ceremony at ArTurbina. Many artists and troupe members attended. During the event, they honored hundreds of artists who shaped this important institution.

Moreover, Minister Blendi Gonxhja spoke at the ceremony. He stressed the need to guarantee artists’ status. Gonxhja explained that artists must have freedom. Therefore, the state must protect them with a special status.

Furthermore, Indrit Çobani, the acting director, shared his thoughts. He said the theater remains a rare place where people share ideas live. However, he noted that actors face challenges in today’s noisy information age. Thus, they must find new ways to reach their audience.

In addition, actress Luzia Xhuvani shared memories from her first day at the theater. She recalled meeting famous artists like Piro Mani and Kadri Roshi. She felt privileged, and this feeling stayed with her throughout her career.

Also, actress Yllka Muja described theater as a mission and a source of awareness. She said theater helps people understand themselves and the world better.

Meanwhile, actor Ndriçim Xhepa emphasized the importance of training new directors. He said the state must focus on directing. Without good directors, there is no good theater. Therefore, he recommended that graduates study further at top European or Eastern schools. This will improve theater quality.

During the ceremony, the troupe performed excerpts from Topazi. This marked the theater’s 80-year history.

Historically, before the 1990s, the theater was called the Popular Theatre. It focused mainly on socialist realism dramas by Eastern authors. However, it also staged world classics like Gogol’s The Government Inspector, Shakespeare’s Othello, and Goldoni’s The Servant of Two Masters.

Since 1989, the theater has been called the National Theatre. After the 1990s, it expanded its repertoire. Consequently, it added works by Shakespeare, Dorst, Trebeshina, Molière, Kadare, and others.

Today, the National Theatre operates in the ArTurbina building. Meanwhile, it awaits the construction of a new theater.

/a.c/