The Turkmen State Circus (Turkmen: Türkmenistanyň Döwlet Sirki/Түркменистаның Дөвлет Сирки) is the main arena circus of Ashgabat, capital of Turkmenistan. It has a seating capacity of 1,700 seats. Is administered by the Ministry of Culture and Broadcasting of Turkmenistan.
Turkmen State Circus | |
---|---|
Türkmenistanyň Döwlet Sirki Түркменистаның Дөвлет Сирки | |
General information | |
Location | Ashgabat, Turkmenistan |
Construction started | 1979 |
Completed | 1984 |
Design and construction | |
Architect(s) | Annageldy Bazarov & Arif Zeynalov |
The circus was built from 1979–1984. In 2001, President Saparmurat Niyazov abolished all circuses in the country.[1] In 2008, the new President of Turkmenistan Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov lifted the ban on circus.[2][3] By presidential decree, the State Circus of Turkmenistan was established, operating in the Soviet era building constructed. Reconstruction of an old two-story building of the Turkmen State Circus was started in June 2008 by the Turkish company "EFOR".[4] The cost of reconstruction was $17.9 million. In October 2009, the Turkmen State Circus was opened with the first presentation.
In 2010, an adjacent training school for circus arts was opened.[5] In 2012, the circus performed their first foreign performance in Minsk. In 2013, the Turkmen State Circus won first place in the Circus Festival Idol in Moscow.[6][7]
37°57′15″N 58°21′58″E / 37.95417°N 58.36611°E