A Trip Down Memory Lane: Georgia’s Latest Addition to the Culture Scene
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Some weeks ago, we at GT were alerted to a new production in the works within Tbilisi’s famous cultural scene. Whilst one who knows Tbilisi well may know the numerous ballets, operas, plays and traditional dance concerts that correctly depict Georgia and its rich culture; we were somewhat pleasantly surprised when we learned of a new musical ‘Welcome to Georgia!’ planned for release later this month.
The idea behind this great production was to portray ‘Georgia in a nutshell,’ perhaps for those who are visiting Tbilisi but who might not get the chance to see the many different and varied regions of Georgia, or the differing traditions that come with them. Whilst my fellow Editor and I were open-minded and looking forward to watching a closed-premiere of the show, we did not have any real expectations of it, let alone that it would have such an emotional impact.
When I first arrived in this beautiful country five years ago, I found it truly hard, near-on impossible, to explain to my loved ones back in the UK the experiences that I had, well... experienced. Georgia is one of those places where words are not enough to describe cultural experiences here. Whilst one can do one’s best to create a mental image for others of a supra, the Sukhishvilebi dancing, kansi’s and the like, you always feel as if you’ve never quite depicted it the way you wanted to. Of course, I would record small videos and take a lot of photos, but that provided mere snippets; the heart and soul of each occasion was only apparent if you were actually there, experiencing it. This, I think, contributed greatly to why I felt I had alienated those around me in the UK (see my previous blog), because I would describe these experiences the best I could, but of course, never quite capture the true essence of what I was talking about.
‘Welcome to Georgia!- The Musical’ was almost autobiographical for me. The story is about a French-girl who comes to Georgia for the first time, having met her Kakhetian boyfriend in France. He invites her back to his homeland, and introduces her to his family in Kakheti, where they sing, dance, and serenade the foreign visitor in typical and unique Georgian style. The little things that added to the whole experience were magnificently portrayed. The male characters explaining how women should be seated during the toasts, the etiquette to drinking (gulping, right until the end) wine, and the general overwhelming nature of one’s first, real Supra in Georgia. The 90-minute performance seemed to perfectly capture my own experiences upon arriving here, a time that now seems like a lifetime ago.
Life for me here now is, unfortunately, no longer like this. You can only maintain the ‘tourist in Georgia’ status for so-long before you’re accepted, at least almost, as a local. The magic I experienced back then had almost been forgotten in my mind, and watching this show brought it all back to life. The nostalgia I experienced from recalling those memories was, actually, extremely emotional.
My parents are arriving in Tbilisi soon, and I cannot wait for them to see ‘Welcome to Georgia!- The Musical’ because it offers me the opportunity to show them what it was like for me all those years ago, without the need of any words at all.
Welcome to Georgia! is expected to open later this month. Further details to follow.
By Tamzin Whitewood