A S Romen

Moishe Goldblatt, born in Romania in 1896, was a prominent figure in Yiddish, Russian, and Romani theatre. After studying in Romania and fleeing to Soviet Russia following World War I, he became involved with the Moscow State Jewish Theatre (GOSET). He graduated from its studio in 1924 and was a leading actor, also appearing in the 1925 film 'Jewish Luck.'

In 1931, Goldblatt founded and directed the Moscow Romani Theatre Romen, initially as a studio called Indo-Romen, with support from Soviet cultural policies. He directed numerous productions in the Romani language until 1936. Later, he led the Birobidzhan State Jewish Theatre (BirGOSET) and the Kiev State Jewish Theatre (GOSET), directing plays and sometimes acting. His career spanned various locations, including Chernivtsi and Kazakhstan, and he also worked in film. Goldblatt authored memoirs and a history of Soviet Jewish theatre before passing away in Israel in 1974.

Born in Herța, Romania, Moishe Goldblatt received a traditional Jewish education before joining a traveling Yiddish troupe. After serving in the Romanian army during World War I, he relocated to Soviet Russia. From 1918 to 1921, he performed with a mobile Jewish theatre company in Ukraine. His formal theatrical training began at the Moscow State Jewish Theatre (GOSET) studio, graduating in 1924, though he had already joined the main acting troupe in 1923. During this period, he was also featured in the 1925 film 'Jewish Luck,' based on Sholem Aleichem's stories. Goldblatt remained a key actor at GOSET until 1937, teaching at its associated school and becoming a prominent performer during the troupe's acclaimed era under Solomon Mikhoels.

In 1929, Goldblatt was tasked with leading an amateur group of young Romani performers, aligning with Soviet initiatives to support minority cultures. With backing from Anatoly Lunacharsky, he established the Indo-Romen theatre-studio in 1931, which soon achieved professional status and became known as the Romen Theatre. As artistic director and chief stage director until 1936, Goldblatt oversaw productions in the Romani language, starting with the revue 'Atasya i dadyves.' His directorial work included adaptations of classic literature and original plays by Ivan Rom-Lebedev, culminating in a 1936 production of Pushkin's 'The Gypsies.' He also co-directed the 1935 film 'The Last Camp,' which featured Romani actors.

Following his departure from the Romani theatre, Goldblatt served as artistic director for the Birobidzhan State Jewish Theatre (BirGOSET) from 1937 to 1939, staging works by Moishe Kulbak and others. He then moved to head the Kiev State Jewish Theatre (GOSET) in 1939, where he directed historical tragedies and adaptations of Sholem Aleichem, also taking on acting roles. During World War II, the theatre was evacuated, and Goldblatt also directed at the Kazakh State Academic Drama Theatre. After the war, the Kiev GOSET relocated, and Goldblatt continued directing until its closure in 1950 amid a campaign against Jewish cultural institutions. He later worked in Kazakh and Russian drama theatres and authored memoirs and a significant historical survey of Soviet Jewish theatre, 'The Rise and Fall of Jewish Theatrical Culture in the Soviet Union,' before settling in Israel, where he died in 1974.