Regional Theaters in Azerbaijan Strive to Gain Attention in Baku, but Challenges Persist

Among Azerbaijan's rich cultural heritage, theater holds a special place. However, regional theaters, an essential part of this heritage, have long remained distant from the capital's audience, with a significantly smaller viewership compared to Baku. The "Regional Theaters’ Premiere in Baku" project aims to bridge this gap by bringing regional theaters to the Baku stage, infusing new life into the local theater scene and fostering intercultural dialogue. This initiative provides Baku audiences with an opportunity to discover talented artists from the regions and enjoy their works. Yet, the challenges encountered during the project highlight persistent barriers to expanding the reach of theater art to wider audiences.

Challenges Abound, Rooted in Management and Policy

Theater critic and writer Emin Aliyev argues that audience-related issues are not confined to regional theaters but also affect city theaters. He identifies the core problems as stemming from theater management, budgetary constraints, and government cultural policies.

"Another issue is the living conditions in the regions. Severe unemployment and degradation in these areas inevitably impact cultural institutions and the broader cultural life of towns and districts," Aliyev notes.

Creativity Stifled: Problems with Permissions and Management

Aliyev emphasizes the need to allow theaters to make independent decisions to rekindle public interest in theater. Currently, theaters cannot organize even minor events without approvals from their supervising bodies. Every step requires permission and directives, stifling creativity.

"There is no creative atmosphere in theaters; they resemble official state institutions more than creative entities. These issues significantly impact their operations and the audience's perception," Aliyev remarks.

Significant Efforts Needed for Tangible Results

Commenting on the ongoing project, Aliyev remains skeptical about its long-term impact. He points out that such initiatives, including those organized occasionally by the Union of Theater Workers, have been done before.

"The objective of such projects is often to create a big splash with a small budget, mainly serving as a PR exercise. Achieving real results requires substantial funding and structural reforms, which have never been implemented and remain uncertain," Aliyev asserts.

The Future of Regional Theaters in Doubt

Aliyev contends that there is no significant artistic quality difference between performances staged by regional and city theaters. Instead, the disparities lie in the conditions of the buildings, the allocated annual budgets, and the stature of the artists involved. He attributes the continued existence of regional theaters to a more historical approach to the arts.

"Theaters are like museums; their preservation is more about catering to foreign guests and the international community. This is also the way city theaters are managed," Aliyev concludes.