The latest staging adaptation of the novel Me, Grandma, Iliko and Illarion by Nodar Dumbadze will grace Gradsky Hall Theatre in the capital, a development announced by the cultural institution’s press service. The production team emphasizes that the modern retelling respects the spirit of the original while bringing fresh theatrical energy to the audience.
The story follows Zuriko, a boy who grows up under the gentle guidance of his grandmother in a simple village setting. Nearby, Iliko and Illarion—two elder neighbors—play supportive roles in his upbringing, shaping his early curiosity about the world. As Zuriko navigates childhood, the narrative blends humor with moments of quiet reflection, charting the boy’s path toward independence and a broader understanding of life. The work is deeply rooted in its author’s personal history, reflecting Dumbadze’s early life where loss and displacement colored his worldview after his father’s death in 1937 and his mother and two brothers were sent to the Gulag. Those hardships led Dumbadze to relocate to the countryside to stay with relatives, a formative chapter that informs the play’s tone and themes (Source: Gradsky Hall press service).
The forthcoming performances are scheduled for Gradsky Hall on November 12 and 17, and again on December 22 and 23. The production is directed by Georgiy Iobadze, who also takes a principal acting role in the piece, guiding the ensemble with his intimate understanding of the material and its emotional core (Source: Gradsky Hall press service).
In a candid recollection, the director recalls reaching out to Tatyana Doronina with the hope of engaging a director who could bring a distinctly Georgian perspective to the adaptation. Doronina declined, suggesting that Dumbadze should helm the project for a Georgian lineup. When no other director emerged, Iobadze chose to assume responsibility for the direction himself, a decision he describes as a natural continuation of the story’s evolution. The production emerged, transformed, and ultimately took shape under his continued stewardship, weaving together memories, humor, and a sense of shared history (Source: Gradsky Hall press service).
The adaptation promises a reflective, character-driven experience that invites audiences to see how simple acts of care and community shape a child’s understanding of family, resilience, and growing up. It balances warmth with the gravity of the past, inviting viewers to consider how personal histories still resonate in today’s world. The performances are framed by a design that honors the rural setting while leveraging modern stagecraft to bring Zuriko’s village life to luminous life (Source: Gradsky Hall press service).
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