Armenian theater dates to before Roman times

and is one of the oldest Eurasian theatrical traditions...

The Armenian Theatre has its roots in the theatre of Ancient Greece, and it was a natural development of ancient religious rituals, when hired professional gusans (troubadours), sang the praises of the nobleman's ancestors in lengthy verses. Singers of lamentations or tragedians were known as voghbergus, and those participating in festive ceremonies were called katakagusan (Comedians).

The history of the Armenian Real Theater begins at about 70 BC. According to Plutarch, the first historically known theatre in Armenia was built during the reign of Tigran the Great. In Dikranagert he opened a great public theatre in 69 B.C., fourteen years before Pompey's first public theatre in Rome.

Tigran's son, Artavazd II, wrote several Greek tragedies, orations, and historical commentaries which survived until the second century A.D. Artavazd built the second permanent public theatre of Armenia in the old capital of Artashat. The tragedies of Euripides and the comedies of Menander were regularly produced there. He is considered the first Armenian playwright and director of Classical Armenian Theatre. Plutarch mentions that the Bacchae of Euripides, directed by Artavazd, was presented there in 53 B.C.

In 1855, the first western Armenian amateur theatre group was established by SrabionHek'imian, and a year later, Beshigtashlian organized a group of amateurs who performed at the Lusavochian School. Their success led to the construction of new school auditoriums and theatres in various parts of Constantinople. Turks, whose introduction to Armenian theatre was at the homes of their Armenian friends, soon saw Armenian actors on Turkish stages as well. It is believed that Armenians played a principal part in the birth of contemporary Turkish Theatre.

The Gabriel Sundukyan State Academic Theatre  founded in February 25, 1922 in Yerevan, is the oldest modern theatre in the Republic of Armenia. Well-known actors and directors such as VardanAjemian, Valentin Podpomogov, VahramPapazian, HrachiaGhaplanyan, HrachiaNersisyan, Hasmik, AvetAvetisian, ArusVoskanian, and Edgar Elbakyan were the stars of the theater's group. They performed both national and foreign plays, such as Sundukyan's Testament, Muratsan'sRouzan, Shant's Ancient Gods, Camus's Caligula, Brecht's Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui, Chekhov's Cherry Orchard, O'Neill's Desire Under the Elms, Werfel's Forty Days of Musa Dagh, etc. People's Artist of the USSR VarduhiVarderesyan is the leading actress of Sundukyan Theatre.

Moscow Cinema is the largest cinema hall in the Armenian capital of Yerevan, located on Charles Aznavour Square at Abovyan Street. It was built on the site of St. Paul and Peter Church, which was demolished in the 1930s by the Soviet authorities. It was proposed in 2010 to demolish the cinema and rebuild the church.

The cinema has participated in the 'Golden Apricot', an international film festival held in Yerevan every year since 2004. The square in front of the cinema is named after Charles Aznavour as part of the celebrations of the 10th anniversary of Armenian independence in 2001.

Armenian National Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet after Alexander Spendiaryan in Yerevan was officially opened on 20 January 1933, with Alexander Spendiaryan'sAlmast opera performance. The opera building was designed by the Armenian architect Alexander Tamanian. It consists of two concert halls: the Aram Khatchaturian concert hall with 1,400 seats and the Alexander Spendiaryan Opera and Ballet National Theater with 1,200 seats.The opening of the theater promoted the creation of new national operas and ballets. The first Armenian ballet was Happiness by Aram Khachaturian. On the basis of this ballet the composer soon created Gayane which has been performed all over the world.

The Yerevan State Puppet Theatre named after Hovhannes is a puppet theatre in Yerevan, Armenia. It was opened on 1 June 1935 by director Sofia Bejanyan, painter GevorgArakelyan, actors PavlosBoroyan and AraksiaArabyan. The first director of the theatre was VariaStepanyan. Later in 1938, the theatre was renamed after HovhannesTumanyan. Between 1950 and 1957 the theatre was closed. However, on 27 July 1957, the theatre was reopened.

State Russian Dramatic Theatre named after Konstantin Stanislavski, more commonly Stanislavski Russian Theatre, is a state theatre in the Armenian capital of Yerevan located on Abovyan Street in the central Kentron district of the city, next to Charles Aznavour Square. It was opened in 1937 and named after the Russian actor and theatre director Constantin Stanislavski since 1938. The theatre director is Alexander Grigoryan since 1965.

The shows of the theatre are mainly from the Russian works of art and literature with some shows of Armenian classical writers.

Hakob Paronyan State Musical Comedy Theatre, is one of the prominent theatres of the Armenian capital of Yerevan, founded in 1941.It is located on VazgenSargsyan Street in the central Kentron district of the city, near the Republic Square. It is named after the Western Armenian renowned satirist HakobParonyan. The Theatre was opened on June 22, 1942. The first artistic director was SharaTalyan. Many well-known persons worked in theatre, including ArtemiAyvazyan, VardanAjemian, Mikael Arutchian, Karp Khachvankyan, Svetlana Grigoryan, ArmenElbakyan, YervandGhazanchyan and others.

Musical Comedy Theatre participated at international theatre festivals in Armenia, Georgia, Iran, England, the United States.

Hrachya Ghaplanyan Drama Theatre is a theatre based in Yerevan, the capital of Armenia. It was founded in 1967. It is located on AvetikIsahakyan 28 street of the Kentron district. It was opened with a performance of HovhannesTumanian's "Anush" opera, directed by HrachyaGhaplanyan.Since 1986, the artistic director at the theatre is ArmenKhandikyan.