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Habima was founded by Nahum Zemach in Moscow soon after the 1905 revolution. Because its performances were in Hebrew and it dealt with issues of the Jewish people, it met with persecution by the Czarist government.
Beginning in 1918, it operated under the auspices of the Moscow Art Theatre, which some consider its true beginning. It encountered difficulties under the Soviet government as well after the Russian Revolution. Stanislavski arranged for the mainly Jewish Polish actors to be trained by Yevgeny Vakhtangov. The People's Commissar of Nationalities Affairs, Joseph Stalin, also authorised the theatre's creation.
In 1926, the theatre left the Soviet Union to tour abroad, including in the United States. Zemach and some actors stayed in New York City, where their productions had met with success. Their productions included plays from the Jewish folk tradition, and they were performed in Hebrew. The company split up, with some members choosing to stay in New York. Other members of the theatre took the company to Mandate Palestine in 1928. At that time the Habima Players invited director Aleksei Dikiy from the Moscow Art Theatre to help them. Dikiy directed two successful plays for Habima: one was Der Oytser (The Treasure), play in Yiddish by Sholom Aleichem, which premiered on December 29, 1928. The second was The Crown, a play by David Calderon that premiered on May 23, 1929, in Tel Aviv. With the success of Dikiy's directorship in the season of 1928/29, Habima gained a reputation as a national Jewish theatre with a permanent repertoire and stage in Tel Aviv.
The image of actress Hana Rovina starring as Leah'le in the historical Habima production of S. Ansky's The Dybbuk (performed by Habima in the Hebrew-language translation by Hayyim Nahman Bialik) is a cultural icon that represents Jewish and Israeli theatre.
Habima has been officially considered the national theatre of Israel since 1958, the year in which it received the Israel Prize for theatre. It was the first year in which the Prize awarded to an organisation. In the 21st century, Habima employs 80 actors, and another 120 staff members work at the complex.
According to the traditions of founders Hannah Rubina, and Aaron Baskin, the Habima is still devoted to promoting unique theatre - to create and foster a new generation of leading actors and theatre professionals.
Habima conducts ongoing collaborations with diverse audiences through various activities, including .Theater 'Fun-days' for young people: participants are shuttled to and from the Theater where they debate before a play, take part in improvisational exercises, study acting, directing and props, tour the backstage area as well as learning about the rich history of the Theater itself.
Year-long weekly theatre seminars for junior high-school students.
Universal Access: simultaneous translations to plays, closed captioning and headsets available as well as senior discounts.
Annual awards are given to theatre professionals for outstanding achievements in their work.
Habima has performances throughout Israel, giving the Israeli public, from anywhere at any age, the opportunity to participate in the theatre - Jews and Arabs, secular and religious, young and old.
The Theater provides a home for creativity and an incubator for playwrights, directors, actors and designers, where they can develop their talents, gain experience and develop. The Young Habima Company, founded 12 years ago by artistic director, Ilan Ronen, performs its plays within the country and went abroad with its play "The Caucasian Chalk Troupe".
Habima,
The National Theatre of Israel,
P.O.B. 222, 61001
Tel-Aviv
ISRAEL
sherut@habima.org.il
http://www.habima.co.il/show_item.asp?itemId=1995&levelId=64318&itemType=0
Here are few videos reflect some of their work.