Navoi Theater

The Navoi Theater (Uzbek: Alisher Navoiy nomidagi davlat akademik katta teatri, "Alisher Navoi State Academic Grand Theatre")^[1] is the national opera theater in Tashkent, Uzbekistan.

In 1929, amateurs of concert-ethnographic group led by M. Kari-Yakubov was established and later founded the professional theatre. In 1939 it was renamed to the Uzbek State Opera and Ballet Theatre, and in March 1948 it was united with Russian theatre and called as the State Opera and Ballet Theatre named after Alisher Navoi. Later, in 1959 the theatre obtained the status of Academic theatre and in 1966 – the status of Bolshoi Theatre,^[2][3]

Designed by Alexey Shchusev,^[4] the building of the theater was built in 1942-1947 and was opened to the public in November, 1947, celebrating the 500th anniversary of the birth of Alisher Navoi, the greatest representative of Chagatai literature.^[5] During 1945–47, the Japanese prisoners of war who were captured by the Soviet Union participated in the building construction under forced labor.^[6][7]

The theater has a capacity of 1,400 spectators. The main stage is 540 square meters big.

In 1996, Uzbek President Islam Karimov installed a plaque at the theater honoring the Japanese people involved in its construction. The plaque reads,""Hundreds of Japanese nationals deported from the Far East in 1945 and 1946 participated in the construction of this Theater named Alisher Navoi and contributed to its completion.''^[8]

• Ilkhom Theater
• List of Uzbek theatre groups

41°18′33″N 69°16′18″E / 41.30917°N 69.27167°E / 41.30917; 69.27167