Ethiopian National Theatre

National theatre in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Ethiopian National Theatre

የኢትዮጵያ ብሄራዊ ቲያትር

Former names| Haile Selassie I Theater (1955–1975)
Address| Gambia St, Arada district
Addis Ababa,
Ethiopia
Coordinates| 9°00′58″N 38°45′07″E﻿ / ﻿9.0161°N 38.7519°E﻿ / 9.0161; 38.7519
Owner| Ethiopian government
Type| National theater
Genre(s)| Multipurpose, often entertainment
Capacity| 1,500
Construction
Opened| 1955
Renovated| 2019
Construction cost| 400 million birr (renovation)[1]
Main contractors| Addis Mebratu Consulting Architects & Engineers

The Ethiopian National Theatre (Amharic: የኢትዮጵያ ብሄራዊ ቲያትር) is a national theatre in central Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Formerly known as Haile Selassie I Theater, it was initially built by Italians during its occupation of Ethiopia as Cinema Marconi, which consisted of some 250 seats.

In 1955, the theatre was established as national theatre under Emperor Haile Selassie. The Austrian composer Franz Zelwecker was the first director general of the theatre. In 2019, plan to build new headquarter has been commenced.[2]

## Overview

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Formerly known as the Haile Selassie I Theater,[3] the hall had begun to be built during the Italian occupation as the Cinema Marconi with some 350 seats. The building was later completed in 1955 for the celebrations of the Silver Jubilee, and expanded to seat 1,260 people. The theatre group was founded by the government in the late 1940s, with the main objective of playing Ethiopian songs by soloists accompanied by a modern orchestra.

The Austrian composer Franz Zelwecker became the first director of the National Theater.

The theater is divided into two directorates, one for theater and the other for music. The music directorate includes the Izra Folk Music and Dance Group, Yared Modern Orchestra, Dawit POP Orchestra and String Orchestra.

In 2019, the theatre planned to renovated with 1.5 billion birr, anticipated for completion within five years. The new theatre has 12 storey, lying on 7,000 square kilometers with construction is undertaken by the Addis Mebratu Consulting Architects & Engineers.[4] Initially awarded to the Afro Tsion Construction PLC, the Federal Building Construction Project Office took part in March 2021.[5] Manyazewal Endeshaw has been the director general of the theatre since 2019.[2][6]

## See also

[edit]

* National Theater of Somalia

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Expansion of National Theatre recommences with new contractor". The Reporter. Retrieved 29 March 2025.
2. ^ a b "At The Helm of the National Theatre Nebiyou Baye Dreams Big". Retrieved 2025-03-29.
3. ^ "National Theater". 2012-04-19. Archived from the original on 2012-04-19. Retrieved 2024-02-26.
4. ^ Fortune, (Addis). "National Theater Moves Ahead with New HQs". Retrieved 2025-03-29.
5. ^ Berhane, Samson (2022-01-29). "Expansion Of National Theatre Recommences With New Contractor". www.thereporterethiopia.com. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
6. ^ "Bertolt Brecht at the Ethiopian National Theatre - Goethe-Institut Ethiopia". www.goethe.de. Retrieved 2025-03-29.

## External links

[edit]

* Ethiopian Ministry of Youth Sports and Culture Archived 2012-04-19 at the Wayback Machine

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF

National|

* United States

9°0′58″N 38°45′7″E﻿ / ﻿9.01611°N 38.75194°E﻿ / 9.01611; 38.75194

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