The Tatar State Academic Theater named after Galiasgar Kamal is one of the oldest national theaters in Russia.
On December 22, 1906, the first public performance in the Tatar language was performed in Kazan by representatives of progressive youth. This date is considered to be the birthday of the Tatar theater. However, at the end of the XIX century the first plays in Tatar language were written, which were staged in schools-medreses and home theaters. The Tatar professional theater of the early XIX century had several troupes. The most famous one was "Sayar" ("Peredvizhnik"), which from the very first steps became an important center for spreading enlightenment and culture. In 1918 "Sayar" was transformed into the First Soviet Tatar Drama Troupe. In 1920 the troupe was named "The First Tatar State Show Theater", in 1926 it was given the title "Academic", and in 1939 it was named after Galiasgar Kamal, one of the founders of professional theater, an outstanding classic of Tatar dramaturgy. Tatar artists and directors also provided great assistance in the creation of national theaters in the republics of Central Asia, Kazakhstan and Bashkortostan.
From 1966 to 2002 the chief director of the theater was the People's Artist of the USSR, winner of the State Prizes of Tatarstan and Russia, winner of the All-Russian theatrical award "Golden Mask" in the nomination "For Honor and Dignity", academician M.H. Salimzhanov. The plays staged by him have entered the golden fund of dramaturgy, and for the audience he will forever remain the most favorite and revered director. Under his leadership the theater gained great authority not only in Russia and the former USSR, but also abroad - in Finland, Germany, Turkey.
Currently, the work of his teacher - master Marsel Salimzhanov - is continued by Farid Bikchantaev, Honored Art Worker of the Republic of Tatarstan and the Russian Federation, winner of the State Prize named after G. Tukai, winner of the International Stanislavsky Prize.
About 50 actors work in the theater, many of them were educated in higher theater schools in Kazan, Moscow and St. Petersburg. The repertoire of the theater includes more than 20 performances. From the very first years of its existence and to this day the theater, in addition to the national dramaturgy, turns to the works of Russian and foreign classics.
The theater is the organizer of the International Theatre Festival and Educational Forum "Nauruz", the International Festival of Young Directing "Craft", the competition "New Tatar Play".
High-quality repertoire, professional stable troupe, modern direction and scenography, genre variety of productions make the theater attractive and interesting for the audience both in the city and far beyond its borders. The theater actively tours Russia, near and far abroad and has won great success with the audience in Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Germany, Finland, Turkey, Great Britain.
Currently, the theater is located in a new, technically equipped, purpose-built building. The auditorium, designed for 843 people, is equipped with a speech translation system into two languages simultaneously.
The architectural appearance of the theater, inscribed in the panorama of Kaban Lake in the historical center of the city, has long been among the sights of Kazan and has become a place of pilgrimage for tourists and guests of the capital. The Kamala Theater is a light of the culture of the Tatar people, a keeper of traditions and a springboard for creative daring, a synthesis of the spiritual wealth of the nation accumulated over centuries.
At the XIII Alexandrinsky International Festival, the performance of the Tatar State Academic Theater named after G. Kamal "Dark Years. Muhajiruns" staged by Farid Bikchantayev (September 21, 22, 2022. The main stage of the Alexandrinsky Theater).
