Theaters
4 of Spades – Gabriel Sundukyan National Academic Theatre
Founded in 1921, with Levon Kalantar as its founder and first artistic director, the theatre opened with the comedy Pepo.
Initially called the First State Theatre, it was renamed in 1937 after playwright Gabriel Sundukyan, and in 1967 it was granted the status of an academic theatre.
The current building was inaugurated in 1966, designed by architect R. Alaverdyan and engineer R. Badalyan. Its portal, created by sculptor Ara Harutyunyan, serves as a symbolic entry into the world of theatre — featuring female figures, masks, and the head of King Artavazd II, evoking images tied to Armenian theatrical traditions dating back over 2,000 years.
Located at: 6 Grigor Lusavorich Street.
4 of Diamonds – Hrachya Ghaplanyan Drama Theatre
Founded in 1967 by the People’s Artist of the USSR, Hrachya Ghaplanyan. The first play staged was The Optimistic Tragedy by Vsevolod Vishnevsky, directed by Ghaplanyan himself.
Located at: 28 Isahakyan Street.
4 of Clubs – Hovhannes Tumanyan State Puppet Theatre
The Yerevan Puppet Theatre was founded on June 1, 1935. The small troupe was led by Hasmik Gyozalyan, a graduate of Sergey Obraztsov’s theatre studio school. Its first performance, The Dog and the Cat, was staged on June 5, 1935.
Other founding members included actress Sofia Bejanyan, educator Maruk Durgaryan, artist Gevorg Arakelyan, and actors Araksia Arabyan and Pavlos Boroyan.
In 1977, the theatre opened a unique museum dedicated to Armenian puppetry.
Located at: 4 Sayat-Nova Avenue.
4 of Hearts – Hakob Paronyan State Musical Comedy Theatre
Founded in 1941, the theatre's first performance, The Fire Priestess by V. Valentinov, premiered on December 23, 1941. The official opening followed on June 22, 1942, with The King Amuses Himself by Rudolf Nelson.
The theatre experienced a creative rise in the mid-1940s under the direction of V. Atchemyan.
Since 1962, it has been named after the renowned Armenian satirist Hakob Paronyan.
Located at: 7 Vazgen Sargsyan Street.