The Jakub Kolas National Academic Drama Theater is a professional Belarusian theater, which was opened on November 21, 1926. At that time, it was called the Second Belarusian State Theater.

The theater was created from graduates of the Belarusian Drama Studio in Moscow. The opening ceremony was attended by famous writers and playwrights: Janka Kupala, Francišak Aliachnovič, Ciška Hartny, Kuźma Čorny. The first performance was based on Illia Ben's play "In the Past Time". Soon, performances of "Tsar Maximilian" by Aleksey Remizov, "A Midsummer Night's Dream" by William Shakespeare and others were also prepared.

In the early 1930s, the theater turned to Belarusian drama. The performances "Fashionable Squirelet" based on the play by Karuś Kahaniec, "Irynka" by Kuźma Čorny and "The Death of the Wolf" by Eduard Samujlionak were staged. The cooperation of the theater with Janka Kupala and Jakub Kolas was fruitful. There were productions of "War to War"and "In the Forests of Paliessie" by Jakub Kolas, "Paŭlinka" and "Prymakoŭ" by Janka Kupala.

During the German occupation, since 1941, the theater worked in Uraĺsk, and then in Arechaŭ-Zujeŭ. In October 1944, the theater returned to Viciebsk. On December 21, 1944, the theater was named after Jakub Kolas. One of the hallmarks of the theater was the play "Niescierka" based on the play by Vitaĺ Voĺski.

In 1977, the theater was awarded the title of academic. And in 1978, director Valieryj Mazynski staged a play by Uladzimir Karatkievič "Kastuś Kalinoŭski" on the stage of the theater for the first time in Bielaruś.

In 2001, already in independent Belarus, the Viciebsk theater became a national theater. At this time, the performances "Šahal, Šahal..." and "Rose in the Open Field", dedicated to the famous Viciebsk artists Mark Šahal and Judaĺ Pen, were very popular.

The modern building of the theater (architects A. Maksimaŭ and I. Ryskina) was built in 1958. The main facade faces the Tysiačahoddzia Square of Viciebsk. The main facade is in the form of an eight-column doric portico, completed with a triangular pediment. The side facades are decorated with rust and pilasters. The back facade is designed as a four-column portico. The three-tiered auditorium with a ground floor and two balconies accommodates 758 spectators.

Publication date: 11.02.2021.

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