Rustaveli Meets Shakespeare in London
On November 28, the Embassy of Georgia to the UK presented the evening 'Shakespeare and Rustaveli meet in London' at the Royal Asiatic Society in London. The event was held in annual 'Rustaveli Day' format, in celebration of the 850th anniversary of the medieval Georgian poet Shota Rustaveli and 400 years since William Shakespeare’s death. It was organized in partnership with the British Council, British-Georgian Society, Georgian State Museum of Theater, Music, Cinema and Choreography (Art Palace) and the Royal Asiatic society.
Ambassador of Georgia Tamar Beruchashvili delivered the welcome speech. The audience was also addressed with opening remarks by Mr. David Gigauri, member of the British Georgian Society and moderator of the event; Dr. Alison Ohta, Director of the Royal Asiatic Society and Dr. Graham Sheffield Director of Arts of the British Council.
The event aimed at exploring the legacy of the two iconic authors from different perspectives, including potential affinities between their works. Some notable British and Georgian scholars Professor Donald Rayfield, Professor Elguja Khintibidze and Dr. Nikoloz Aleksidze talked about the manuscripts of Rustaveli’s immortal poem ‘The Man in the Panther’s Skin’ preserved at the Bodleian Library of the University of Oxford; problems of translating Rustaveli into foreign languages; the possible influence of Rustaveli’s poem on Shakespeare and the immense impact of Shakespeare’s works on Georgia’s 19th and 20th century literature and theater.
Director of the British Council in Georgia Zaza Purtseladze launched the book "Shakespeare in Georgian Theater" prepared and published by the Georgian Art Palace. He also elaborated on the project 'Shakespeare and Rustaveli meet in Georgia' which ran through the past several months in Georgia and featured various related exhibitions and talks with the involvement of students and civil society.
The event ended with a reception of Georgian cuisine and wine hosted by the Embassy of Georgia.