Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Uzbekistan

The Uzbek State Musical Drama Theatre was established on July 14, 1939, under the name of the Republican Uzbek Musical Drama and Comedy Theatre. The Karl Marx troupe and talented actors from regional theatres were invited to join this theatre. The theatre’s first performance was the musical comedy “Maysaraning ishi” by Hamza, directed by M. Muhammedov from the Karl Marx troupe. The role of Maysara was performed by artists of the Uzbek State Academic Drama Theatre named after Hamza, Uzbekistan's People’s Artists Maryam Yoqubova and Mariya Kuznesova. On November 11, 1940, the theatre was renamed the Muqimiy Republican Uzbek Musical Drama and Comedy Theatre under the Arts Department of the Council of Ministers.

In 1941, the musical drama “Tohir va Zuhra” by S. Abdulla and T. Jalilov was staged, which became the theatre’s hallmark and defined its direction. The theatre’s regular audience became admirers of legendary, historical musical works and comedies. The popularity of productions in the 1950s, such as “Farhod va Shirin” (music by Y. Rajabiy and G. Mushel), “Ravshan va Zulxumor” (music by T. Jalilov and G. Mushel), “Aziz va Sanam” by A. Bobojonov (music by K. Otaniyozov and L. Stepanov), and “Vatan ishqi” by Z. Fathullin and Sh. Sa’dulla (music by S. Boboyev), testifies to this.

The theatre’s founders include Uzbekistan's People’s Artists Tuxtasin Jalilov, Yunus Rajabiy, Mahmudjon G‘ofurov, Lutfixonim Sarimsoqova, E’tibor Jalilova, and Shahodat Rahimova, along with their successors Omina Fayozova, Tursunxon Ja’farova, Soyib Xo‘jayev, Mashrab Yunusov, Hamza Umarov, Fayzulla Ahmedov, Farogat Rahmatova, Farziddin Fayozov, Sur’at Po‘latov, and Husan Sharipov.

The theatre became a unique laboratory for musical drama and comedy. Musical plays first produced on its stage were later performed in Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, as well as in Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan, Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, and at the “Romen” Theatre in Moscow.

Over the years, the theatre has staged the finest examples of Uzbek dramaturgy and music, such as Hamza and S. Yudakov’s “Maysaraning ishi”, S. Abdulla and T. Jalilov’s “Tohir va Zuhra”, “Mavlono Muqimiy”, K. Yashin and T. Jalilov’s “Farhod va Shirin”, “Nurxon”, Xurshid, Gliyer, and F. Sodiqov’s “Layli va Majnun”, and many others.

In the years of independence, productions such as R. Bobojon’s “Yusuf va Zulaykho”, Hamza’s “Journey to Tashkent”, “The Return of Alpomish” by U. Azim and B. Lutfullayev, and “Trampled Feelings” by X. Xursandov and F. Olimov were staged.

In 2005, the theatre participated in the XVII World Theatre Festival in Cairo, Egypt, winning the grand prize for “The Crowd” by N. Qobul and B. Lutfullayev (directed by Mirza Azizov), becoming laureate among theatres from 94 countries. In 2017, at the VI “ART ORDO” International Theatre Festival in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, the theatre received the prestigious “Best Performance” award for “Dildagi dog‘” by Q. Norqobil and S. Yusupov.