On February 10, the news came out about the legendary Ilkhom theater in Tashkent facing the threat of closure due to the change of the owner of the building where the theater's premises were located (more). The news immediately drew attention of the theater fans not only in Uzbekistan but far beyond the country. Cultural figures from many countries of the world responded to the team's call for the local and international community to save the theater.
Massive public support gave its results, and on the very next day, Ilkhom announced that the theater had managed to defend itself, and it would retain its premises.
Ilkhom is the first independent theater and the key art institution in Central Asia. It was founded in 1976 by director Mark Weil.