Theatre :: ARMENIAN HISTORICAL MONUMENTS

Theatre

Iran / Western Atrpatakan / Salmast / Haftvan

Historical Introduction

Haftvan was one of those few villages in Salmast that boasted a theatre: “The first theatrical hall was built in Haftvan in 1894 through the late M. Avetissian’s efforts.”

Frangian, Yer. Atrpatakan. Tiflis, 1905, p. 165.
Also see Ֆաթթի, Պարսկահայկական նամակներ [Fatti, “Persian-Armenian Letters”], «Ռազմիկ» [Razmik], no. 95, 27 September 1906, p. 2.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 186.

Amir Taheri writes: “The Armenians are the founders of the modern theatre in Iran. They established it in Salmast (Shahpoor) 150 years ago. The ruins of that theatrical hall are now considered as the surviving parts of an Armenian monument.”

Hayrapetian, “Salmast,” Alik, no. 212, 23 September 1969, p. 5.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 186.

In January 1895 the newly-built theatrical hall of the school of Haftvan hosted two performances based on a tragedy and a comedy by the Armenian writer Petros Durian.

Armenia, no. 63, 9 March 1895, p. 2.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 186.

In 1897, after the theatrical hall of Haftvan had undergone reconstruction, a theatrical group was set up in the village thanks to Arsen Hakobian’s efforts (in 1899 he started serving as a priest by the name of Gevorg Otian).

Man. Armen, “A Letter from Persia,” Armenia, no. 45, 3 January 1900, p. 2.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 186.

A record of 1898 confirmed that “there is a theatrical hall in Haftvan.”

Ararat, no. 9 (1898), p. 404.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 186.

On 26 September 1899, the 6th anniversary of the ordination of Catholicos Mkrtich Khrimian I was celebrated in this theatrical hall.

Man. Armen, “A Letter from Persia,” Armenia, no. 29, 8 November 1899, p. 2.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 186.

In August 1903 teacher Petrossian held a literary soiree in the hall in commemoration of the feast of the Holy Virgin. On 17 August two comedies by Parnakes, The Poet and Nisia, were staged there.

Vomn, “A Letter from Persia,” Mshak, no. 191, 3 September 1903, p. 3.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 186.

Judging from a description of 1905, the theatrical hall was part of the school complex: “The school house also has a theatrical hall where the teachers and local young men sometimes stage performances during the academic year.”

Աթայեան Ա., Սալմաստ [A. Atayan, Salmast] (New Jugha, 1906), p. 25.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 186.

In 1913 a new theatre was built next to the school, but judging from the following record, it still lacked a stage: “Haftvan’s newly-built theatre, the large dimensions and splendour of which make it unmatched throughout Salmast, is still incomplete as it does not have a stage.... The building has been constructed on Mr. S. Tadevossian’s initiative, thanks to his efforts, with more than 1,500 tumans. Now is it forgivable to be unwilling to spend another 2[00] or 300 tumans [for the stage]? ...sooner or later the inhabitants of Haftvan themselves will give the necessary amount of money, will they not? Or do they expect Mr. S. Tadevossian to come again and complete it?”

Horizon, no. 145, 3 July 1913, p. 3.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 186.

A letter dated 8 March 1914 conveyed the gratitude of the inhabitants of Haftvan to the Avagian brothers for their donation of 2,500 ghrans for the newly-built theatre. Part of that money had been transferred to the village in cash, while the rest had been spent on buying curtains and objects of decoration in Moscow.

Horizon, no. 64, 25 March 1914, p. 3.
Also see «Գործ» [Gortz], no. 24, 26 March 1914, p. 4.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 186.

In April 1914, on the initiative of the teachers of the local school, a drama by Friedrich Schiller and a vaudeville by Vasak Madatian were staged in the theatre: “The performance turned out to be quite interesting. From among those playing the roles, teacher A. Jonian particularly distinguished himself with his expressive mimicry and unconstrained, dexterous movements. The rest, with some few exceptions, performed their roles well enough.”

Գ. Ռ., Սալմաստի կեանքից [G. R., “From the Life of Salmast”], «Ղարադաղ» [Gharadagh], no. 7, 15 May 1914, p. 5.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 186-188.

The theatre of Haftvan was to promote the spread and development of the theatrical art not only in the district of Salmast, but also perhaps in the entire region. Unfortunately, however, the locals did not enjoy it for a long time: the Turkish troops which invaded the village in December 1914 destroyed the theatre which had just been properly furnished.

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 188.

Nevertheless, the theatre offered some performances in the following years as well: thus, for instance, in May 1917 a newly-gathered group of amateur actors staged a performance, raising 140 roubles for the poor pupils of the local school (as reported by Senior Teacher Karapet Adamian).

Ayg, no. 19, 14 May 1917, p. 4.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 188.

The theatre of Haftvan continued its activities in the 1940s to 1950s.

Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 188.

The edifice of the theatre has been in ruins since 1960.

Bolatian, “Impressions,” Alik, no. 181, 24 August 1960, p. 1.
Karapetian. Samvel, History of Armenia, Salmast, vol. 2, Yerevan, 2019, p. 188.

Author Armen Hakhnazarian

Author Sasun Danielian
Date 2017 y․

Type Measurement
Author Ashot Hakobian
Date 2017 y․

The plan of the theatre house