In 1999, the Crimean Tatar Theater-Studio was established in ancient Bakhchisaray. This initiative belonged to young artist Elmar Ablaev who graduated in 1999 from the Kyiv State Institute of Dramatic Arts, and was strongly supported by local Mejlis (self-government body of Crimean Tatars) leaders and local NGOs.

The Theater-Studio's activities are aimed to increase public awareness of rich and dramatic Crimean Tatar cultural and historical heritage through theater performances.

The Theater-Studio joined 23 young people, mostly school students from Bakhchisaray and surrounding villages. They were selected by results of two competitions.

In two years, they were taught basics of dramatic arts, and, intensively, Crimean Tatar language. To this day, the Theater has 4 plays in its repertoire, and in January 2002 it will begin to work on famous story Qarılğaçlar duası (Prayer of Shallows) by Noman Çelebijihan, written in 1913. His poem, Ant etkenmen (I Sweared) is the Anthem of the Crimean Tatar people.

The first unique performance of the Theater-Studio, Qurban (Sacrifice) is based on the story told in Ayats of the Holy Qur'an about Prophets Abraham and his son Ishmael, which led to creation of one of two greatest Muslim holidays, Iyd-al Adha (Sacrificing). The Theater of Shadows principle was used for this play, and this performance is the first of this kind in the history of Crimean Tatar dramatic art. The play was performed for residents of Bakhchisaray and several surrounding villages, and not only Crimean Tatars, but people of different nationalities, were impressed.

Another performance of the Theater-Studio is devoted to the May 18, 1944 tragedy, when the whole Crimean Tatar nation was deported from its Motherland. There are many works in Crimean Tatar literature describing the deportation, but the Theater-Studio members decided to organize a week-long expedition to villages in different regions of Crimea to meet with elder people who were themselves deported in 1944 or were eyewitnesses.

The performance is based on these stories and memories. The play was performed several times in the Bakhchisaray Crimean Tatar National School, where students and their parents and teachers could not suppress their tears. On the day of May 17th, 1999, the play was performed at the main square of Bakhchisaray, during the mass rally of Crimean Tatars on the eve of 55th anniversary of deportation.

Teachers reported that students were quite impressed by performance itself, and recall much more information about the story compared to their classmates who did not see the performance.

In May 2001, the Theater-Studio participated in Crimean Competition of non-professional theaters and was awarded the People's Theater title. Now it is the only non-professional Crimean Tatar People's Theater in Crimea.

Performances of the Theater-Studio are directed not only at Crimean Tatar audience, but other ethnic groups which like to open to themselves the unique, rich material and spiritual culture of Crimean Tatars who return to Homeland after a half-century long exile. Because of this fact, the theater was invited to take part in the "Golden Key" International Theater Festival in Evpatoria, organized by International Association of Amateur Theaters and devoted to 10th anniversary of Independence of Ukraine. Theater's performance Anneçigim, nerdesin?! Kel! was warmly accepted by experienced public.
As President of the Festival said after performance, "Even though, unfortunately, we do not understand your language, we did understand what you wanted to say by our hearts."

The Bakhchisaray Crimean Tatar People's Theater-Studio was awarded a special Diploma "For Development of National Culture".