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Automatically translated version. May contain inaccuracies compared to the original.
One of the capital’s most famous and oldest theater centers—the National Academic Drama Theatre named after Lesia Ukrainka—marks its 100-year anniversary. The official history of the legendary stage began 15 October 1926 of the year. This is reported by Hlavkom.
The theater notes that over this century generations of actors, directors, and spectators have changed, legendary productions have been born that became a significant part of Ukrainian theater art. Today the company opens a new century of its history with large-scale creative plans, new productions, and deep gratitude to the devoted audience.
A large-scale celebration of the anniversary will take place at the end of the month. Yes, 22 and 23 October at 18:00 on the Main Stage of the theater they will present the anniversary production “This Moment Is Your Life,” created for the 100-year anniversary of the institution.
“This is a theatrical revue in which our entire company, together with you, will turn the pages of a century-old theater history, recall the brightest moments, and gift new ones,” the theater noted.
Tickets for the celebratory shows are already available on the institution’s official website.
From “The Bergonzi House” to the legendary “The Stone Mason”
The theater on Teatralna was the center of the capital’s cultural life even back when there was neither Teatralna nor the metro in Kyiv.
“The Bergonzi House”
photo: Lesia Ukrainka Theatre Website
The building’s history begins in 1891 year, when the famous director, actor and manager Mykola Solovtsov founded the first stationary theater in Kyiv. His troupe performed its first shows exactly in the same building where the Lesia Ukrainka Theatre operates today.
Solovtsov Drama Theatre
photo: Lesia Ukrainka Theatre Website
Historically this building is known as the Bergonzi House, while the name of the famed poet is the later title given to the theater— in the 1941-th year, when Kyiv rang with the Ukrainian “The Cabman” (“Kaminnoho hospodaria”) in the production by Konstantin Pavlovich Khokhloh. It was a true theatrical hit, so among generations of directors of this theater it became a good tradition to present their own version of this play.
Constellations of doyens and masters of the stage
Over the century the theater has formed a unique acting and directing school. At different times audiences admired the performances of Mykhailo Romanov, Yuriy Lavrov, Mariya Strelkova, Liubov Dobrzhanska, Mykola Sveotlovydov, Yevheniya Opalova, Viktor Dobrovolskyi and Viktor Khlatov.
The next generation of doyens—Oleh Borysov, Pavlo Luspekaev, Kyrylo Lavrov, Mykola Rushkovskyi, Serhiy Filimonov, Ada Rogovtseva, Valeriya Zaklunna, as well as Serhiy Parajanov’s muse Larisa KadotchniKova, who continues to come on stage. The older generation of actors—Borys Voznyuk, Iryna Duka, Lidiya Yaremchuk—those whose presence makes the troupe “hold its own” and not yield in mastery.
The theater posters bore the names of prominent composers (Borys Lytoshynsky, Yuriy Shaporin) and scenographers-classics (Anatoliy Petrytsky, Daniil Lider, Moritz Umansky, David Borovsky). In memory of the latter, the theater has a dedicated museum space—the “Space of David Borovsky.”
Three stages and international recognition
Today the theater operates on three venues—the Main, New, and Under-the-roof Stage. This allows a diverse repertoire, from Shakespearean classics, Anouilh and Miller to contemporary European drama (Stevens, McDonagh, Caron) and works of Ukrainian classics—Taras Shevchenko, Dovzhenko, and Lesia Ukrainka.
The theater attracts audiences of all ages: from the youngest fans of fairy tales to connoisseurs of classical academic tradition. Moreover, the company is well known abroad—productions with full houses have taken place in London, Tel Aviv, Munich, New Jersey, Krakow, and many other cities worldwide, proving that the combination of psychological and Ukrainian distinctive theater is understandable to any audience.
The first to open the doors after the start of the full-scale invasion
The full-scale war 24 in February 2022 year changed the life of the institution. Some staff members with weapons in hand stood to defend Ukraine, others organized a powerful volunteer movement.
As soon as the invaders were pushed away from the capital, the Lesia Ukrainka Theatre was the first in Kyiv to resume work for spectators. In difficult times of traffic jams, curfews and air raids, rehearsals and premieres became an important symbol for Kyiv that life goes on.
Since December 2022 the theater has been led by Kyrylo Kashliakov. In anticipation of Victory, the company creates new productions, draws crowds, and daily writes the next pages of its century-long history.
The theater is now living, creating premieres, and drawing crowds
photo: Lesia Ukrainka Theatre/Facebook
By the way, the National Academic Drama Theatre named after Lesia Ukrainka announced a new order of performances during air raid alerts. The course of action depends on the established threat level. After the red alert is announced, the theater immediately stops the performance. Spectators are urged to move to the nearest shelter, which is the Teatralna metro station, and the performance will resume after the alert subsides or the danger level decreases. During a yellow alert, performances will not be stopped, and new shows will start according to the schedule. Staying in the hall or the theater building at that time is at the spectators’ own discretion.
Document: PDF proof of the original version of the news item "Театру Лесі Українки – 100 років: з нагоди ювілею вся трупа вийде на сцену у спеціальній виставі". It records the publication content at the moment of the first scan, the preservation date and the source: ZmiOne.
