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Hager Fikir Theatre
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Landmark
Hager Fikir Theatre
One of the oldest theatres in Ethiopia, on John Melly Street in Piassa
- Area
- Piassa
Hager Fikir Theatre is one of the oldest theatres in Ethiopia. It is on John Melly Street in Piassa, Addis Ababa, and dates from 1935.
Good for
- Visitors
- Association formed in 1935
- Theatre building in Piassa since 1942
- Tilahun Gessesse and Aster Aweke performed here
- Ethiopian plays, music and dance
Hager Fikir Theatre is on John Melly Street in Piassa. It is one of the oldest theatres in Ethiopia. Hager Fikir means love of country.
History
The Hager Fikir association was formed in 1935. Its first shows were in the open air at Menelik Square. During the Italian occupation the members were persecuted and the work stopped until 1941. The theatre then moved into a warehouse in Piassa, which was rebuilt as a theatre in 1942.
Many well-known Ethiopian artists started here. Among them are the singers Tilahun Gessesse and Aster Aweke. The playwright Yoftahe Negussie worked with the theatre in its first years.
What to expect
The theatre stages Ethiopian plays and Amharic versions of plays by Shakespeare, Schiller, Ibsen and Moliere. It also stages music, dance and drama. On public holidays it has shown films.
Getting there
The theatre is in Piassa, a short walk from Menelik II Square, St George Cathedral and the Adwa Victory Memorial Museum. Minibuses to Piassa stop close to it.
Good to know
Most plays are in Amharic. Ask at the box office for the programme of the week. Combine a show with a walk around the old buildings of Piassa.
Reviews
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Frequently asked questions
Where is Hager Fikir Theatre?
The theatre is on John Melly Street in Piassa.
How old is Hager Fikir Theatre?
The Hager Fikir association was formed in 1935. The theatre building in Piassa dates from 1942.
Sources
Profile last reviewed November 12, 2026.
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