Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Theater (also referred to as Lesya Ukrainka Theater) (Ukrainian: Національний академічний драматичний театр імені Лесі Українки, romanized: Nazionalnyj akademitschnyj dramatytschnyj teatr imeni Lessi Ukrajinky) is a theater in Kyiv, Ukraine. It is located in a building known as Bourgogne Theatre.
Bourgogne Theatre | |
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| Address | Kyiv Ukraine |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 50°26′42″N 30°31′07″E / 50.445°N 30.518611°E |
| Operator | Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Theater of Drama |
| Construction | |
| Opened | 1875 |
| Architect | Vladimir Nikolayev |
| Tenants | |
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| Website | |
| https://lesyatheatre.com.ua/ | |
The theatre traces its roots to the Solovtsov theatric troupe that existed in Kyiv since 1891 and also performed in the Bourgogne Theatre. Later the troupe was named as the Russian Drama Theatre.[1]
History edit
Bourgogne Theatre edit
The building was originally designed in 1875 by Vladimir Nikolayev and sponsored by a French entrepreneur Augustin Bourgogne.[2] At first it housed the Kyiv city circus. From 1891 to 1898 the building was leased to the first drama company in Kyiv, Solovtsov Theater.[3] In 1896 the theater put on its first cinema showing.
Modern times edit
Founded in 1926[4] the present company has been in the building since 1929, and it was named after Lesya Ukrainka in 1941.[5]
Many current movie actors have started their career in the theater.[4]
In July 2022, due to the February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine was renamed from Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Theater of Russian Drama to Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Theater.[6][7]
Productions edit
In the 2000s the theater produced plays of Russian and Ukrainian dramatic art.[4] Its repertoire consisted then of plays by famous playwrights such as Fyodor Dostoevsky, Mikhail Bulgakov and others.[4]
In the years prior to the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine most of the performances were in Russian.[6] In the announcement (in July 2022) of the renaming from Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Theater of Russian Drama to Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Theater Minister of Culture Oleksandr Tkachenko stated that "Fans of theatrical art will be able to view quality performances of Ukrainian and foreign authors now in Ukrainian."[6] In May 2024 all productions were performed in the Ukrainian language.[8]
See also edit
- Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater, the original Solovtsov Theater building
References edit
- ^ "Театр имени Леси Украинки | Київ від минулого до майбутнього" (in Russian). 2021-10-15. Retrieved 2022-02-10.
- ^ "История драматического театра имени Леси Украинки в Киеве, - ФОТО, ВИДЕО". 44.ua - Сайт города Киева (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-02-10.
- ^ "Национальный академический театр русской драмы имени Леси Украинки". infoportal.kiev.ua (in Russian). Retrieved 2022-02-10.
- ^ a b c d "НАЦІОНАЛЬНИЙ АКАДЕМІЧНИЙ ТЕАТР РОСІЙСЬКОЇ ДРАМИ ІМЕНІ ЛЕСІ УКРАЇНКИ". resource.history.org.ua. 2010. Retrieved 2022-02-10.
- ^ "Історія". Retrieved 10 February 2022.
- ^ a b c "Without Russian drama: in Kyiv they changed the name of the theater Lesya Ukrainians". Ukrainska Pravda – Zhyttia (in Ukrainian). 19 July 2022. Retrieved 2 May 2024.
- ^ "Звернення працівників театру Лесі Українки".
- ^ "Repertoire". Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Theater official website. Retrieved 2 May 2024.