salamura

The Giorgi Mikeladze Professional State Puppet Theatre of Tbilisi—part of the Union of Professional State Theatres of Georgia—presents its latest premiere. Titled "Salamura," the production was directed by Giorgi Shalutashvili and is based on Archil Sulakauri’s work, "The Adventures of Salamura" (adapted for the stage by Elene Shalutashvili). This notable piece of Georgian children’s literature is more than just a fairy-tale adventure; both the original text and the stage adaptation explore themes of kindness, friendship, love, freedom, and human values.
The director crafts a vibrant, fairy-tale world in which real-life challenges also emerge. The narrative—filled with humor and depicting the conflicts between good and evil, freedom and injustice, and kindness and greed—is framed by the character of a storyteller. At the heart of the story stands Salamura—a distinctive, kind, and sincere character—who seeks to understand both the world and himself through a series of intriguing and perilous adventures. The audience, too, becomes a participant in these compelling and dangerous escapades, which are filled with unexpected encounters, obstacles, and significant discoveries. Ultimately, the noble ideals of kindness, love, and loyalty prevail. We are introduced to a cast of characters—Baia (the shepherd of the fireflies), the King, the Queen, the Prince, the Viziers, Sirbila, Alehop, and Midimoade—each defined by distinct, contrasting artistic traits and unique individual characteristics. In the end, Salamura rescues Baia, who had been held captive at the royal court; this serves as a testament to the eternal triumph of kindness and love over the forces of evil. The production is distinguished by its refined artistic design (by artist Vakhtang Koridze), a diverse range of expressive techniques, and an original musical score created specifically for this performance (by composer Merab Svirava). In terms of age appropriateness, the production is suitable for audiences aged four and older.