Habima, Israel’s National Theater Finally Reopens
The well-known Habima National Theater is one of the first Hebrew language theaters of Israel. Soon after the 1905 revolution, Nahum Zemach founded the Habima Theater. Operating under the shelter of the Moscow Art Theater, its performances were in Hebrew and dealt with the several issues lived and faced by the Jewish population. The Theater itself represented not only an artistic institution but also a revival of the Hebrew language and its rich culture. Every night a new vision began the minute the curtains lifted, which was reflective of the Israeli culture itself.
The theater battled various obstacles after the Russian Revolution, but it continued strong and soon left the Soviet Union in 1926 to tour abroad. The tour to the United States is when the mild tremors of a possible split emerged, as some actors, including Zemach, had become biased towards New York after having met with commercial success. The theatric soon split up and while Zemach and some other actors continued to romance New York, the other actors of the theater took their half to Mandate Palestine in 1928.
Under the directorship of Aleksei Dikiy, Habima built an immense reputation and a permanent stage in Tel Aviv. 1945 saw the company building a theatre in Tel Aviv and in 1958 it was bestowed with the Israel Prize for theater.
After almost five years, the renovation of the Habima Theater building was complete, the cost of which climaxed at over a 100 million NIS. The new building opened with the marvellous performance of “Morris Schimmel” directed by Yael Ronen. The rebuilt complex has added 500 square meters, permitting space to its four auditoria.
The theater will now have theater workshops and Master Classes in addition to its performances. It has also ensured flexibility for visitors by building an underground parking and an easy accessibility for the physically challenged.
The Theater tight financial condition is no secret. Habima has a deficit of almost $11 million. But Habima hopes to soon overcome the problem and continue strong. With the dawn of a new day and after more than four years of exile, the theater has finally returned to its home.
Visit Habima’s official site in English
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