Donetsk National Academic Ukrainian Musical and Drama Theatre
Encyclopedia
Art Director: Mark Brovun, Honoured worker of culture of Ukraine
, awardee of Taras Shevchenko National Prize of Ukraine. Theater hosts regional theater festival "Theatrical Donbas"(since 1992) and Open festival performances and concerts for children and youth
"Golden Key" (since 1997).
), where the Ukrainian labor theater was created, the purpose was to carry out cultural and educational missions in Eastern Ukraine. The actors of Kharkov State Folk Theatre and the famous theater "Berezil" became the basis of the troupe. The first director was the graduate of V. Nemirovich-Danchenko
, the famous director А. Zagarov, and a year later V. Vasilko was appointed the art director, he was the prominent director, the student of Les Kurbas
, and later Honoured People's artist of Ukraine.
In 1933, at the invitation of the People's Commissariat of Education of Ukraine, the creative team was transferred to Donetsk
(then Stalino), where the first season opened on November 7, 1933, with the premiere
of the drama by I.Mikitenko "The Bastille of Virgin". The theater has become a leading team of Donbas and one of the best theaters in Ukraine, to which considerably contributed the variety of repertoire, the overall high level of culture and originality of the company. The following actors formed the basic company: L. Gakkebush, G. Chaika, M. Ilchenko, R. Chalishenko, Levchenko, Yu Rozumovskaya, G. Peter, W. Dobrowolski, E. Chupilko, I. Savuskan, V. Gripak, A. Vorontsov, K. Evtimovich, E. Vinnikov, D. Lazurenko, V. Dovbischenko, as well as students of V. Vasilko, future directors Smirnov, P. Kovtunenko, V. Gakkebush. The best plays of that period: "Marco in Hell," "Song about the Candle" by I. Kocherga, "Haydamaks" by L. Kurbas, "Macbeth
" by W. Shakespeare
, "Vassa Zheleznova" by M. Gorky
, "Platon Krechet" by A. Korniychuk. During the first 10 years the theater visited main cities of Donbas (Voroshilovgrad, Mariupol
, Gorlovka, Donetsk
, Makiivka
, Slavyansk
), as well went outside the region - to Baku
, Minsk
, Vitebsk
, Gomel, Mogilev
, Leningrad
, Rostov-on-Don
, Kiev
.
After the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War the theater was not completely evacuated, the majority of the team members went to the front. A small group of the actors joined the theatrical company of the Artyomovsk
Theatre and was evacuated to Kzyl-Orda (Kazakh SSR). The other, somewhat bigger group has joined in with Gorlovka theater, called Stalin Drama Theater, on their way to Central Asia
and worked in Jalal-Abad
, Kyrgyz SSR.
After the liberation of the Donets Basin
, in January
and March
1944 both troupes returned to Stalino. The after-war period is significant for such theater performances: "Roksolana" by P. Zagrebelny, "People's Malachy" by N. Kulish , "Don Juan
" by Jean-Baptiste Moliere, "Zoyka apartment" by M. Bulgakov
, Gogol's "Revisor", "Some Like It Hot
" by A. Arkadin-Shkolnik and other.
On September 28, 2001 the Theatre was granted an Honorary Academic status, and on November 26, 2009 Presidential Decree granted it the National status.
Several popular and honoured artists of Ukraine work in the troupe:
, Moskal-Charivnik
, Eneyida by I.Kotlyarevskiy
, Shelmenko the Batman, Honcharovka brocage, Blue Turkey shawl, The Witch by G. Kvitka-Osnovyanenko, My Thoughts
by T. Shevchenko
, One Hundred Thousand by I. Karpenko-Kary, Zillya (eng. - potion
) by O.Kobylyanska
, Chasing Two Hares, Ne sudylos’ (eng. It Was Not Destined), Talan (eng. Destiny) by M. Staritskiy, Orgy, Kassandra by Lesya Ukrainka
, The Law by V. Vinnichenko, Bitter Almond Fairy by I.Kocherga, People's Malachy by M. Kulish
, Roksolana by P.Zagrebelniy
and many others.
As for world
drama
, the theater's repertoire
consists of various styles: Twelfth Night, or What You Will
, The Taming of the Shrew
by William Shakespeare
, Caligula
by A.Camus, The Government Inspector, A Christmas Night
, Sorochyntsy Fair by N. Gogol
, Intrigue and Love
by F. Schiller
, The Dancing Master
by Lope de Vega
, The Marriage of Figaro
by Mozart, libretto by L. Da Ponte, Bel Ami
by Guy de Maupassant
, Colombe by J. Anouilh
, Zoyka Apartment by M. Bulgakov
, Some Like It Hot
by A. Arkadin-Shkolnik based on the popular B. Wilder movie and others.
There is as well a Small Stage, created after the renovation of the theatre; it is functioning as the site for creative exploration and bold experiments, and has won recognition from many viewers.
Much attention is paid to the young theater audiences, the best fairy tales are staged in the theatre: Vasilisa the Beautiful, Puss in Boots by S. Prokofiev, Scarlet Flower, Kotigoroshek by A.Shiyan, The Nutcracker by A. Hoffmann and many others.
Ukraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
, awardee of Taras Shevchenko National Prize of Ukraine. Theater hosts regional theater festival "Theatrical Donbas"(since 1992) and Open festival performances and concerts for children and youth
Youth
Youth is the time of life between childhood and adulthood . Definitions of the specific age range that constitutes youth vary. An individual's actual maturity may not correspond to their chronological age, as immature individuals could exist at all ages.-Usage:Around the world, the terms "youth",...
"Golden Key" (since 1997).
History
The story of Donetsk National Academic Ukrainian Musical and Drama Theatre began in 1927 in Kharkov (then the capital of UkraineUkraine
Ukraine is a country in Eastern Europe. It has an area of 603,628 km², making it the second largest contiguous country on the European continent, after Russia...
), where the Ukrainian labor theater was created, the purpose was to carry out cultural and educational missions in Eastern Ukraine. The actors of Kharkov State Folk Theatre and the famous theater "Berezil" became the basis of the troupe. The first director was the graduate of V. Nemirovich-Danchenko
Nemirovich-Danchenko
-People:*Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko , Russian playwright and theatre director* Vasily Nemirovich-Danchenko , Russian novelist and journalist, Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko's brother....
, the famous director А. Zagarov, and a year later V. Vasilko was appointed the art director, he was the prominent director, the student of Les Kurbas
Les Kurbas
Oleksandr-Zenon Stepanovych Kurbas , a Ukrainian movie and theater director, is considered by many to be the most important Ukrainian theater director of the 20th century...
, and later Honoured People's artist of Ukraine.
In 1933, at the invitation of the People's Commissariat of Education of Ukraine, the creative team was transferred to Donetsk
Donetsk
Donetsk , is a large city in eastern Ukraine on the Kalmius river. Administratively, it is a center of Donetsk Oblast, while historically, it is the unofficial capital and largest city of the economic and cultural Donets Basin region...
(then Stalino), where the first season opened on November 7, 1933, with the premiere
Premiere
A premiere is generally "a first performance". This can refer to plays, films, television programs, operas, symphonies, ballets and so on. Premieres for theatrical, musical and other cultural presentations can become extravagant affairs, attracting large numbers of socialites and much media...
of the drama by I.Mikitenko "The Bastille of Virgin". The theater has become a leading team of Donbas and one of the best theaters in Ukraine, to which considerably contributed the variety of repertoire, the overall high level of culture and originality of the company. The following actors formed the basic company: L. Gakkebush, G. Chaika, M. Ilchenko, R. Chalishenko, Levchenko, Yu Rozumovskaya, G. Peter, W. Dobrowolski, E. Chupilko, I. Savuskan, V. Gripak, A. Vorontsov, K. Evtimovich, E. Vinnikov, D. Lazurenko, V. Dovbischenko, as well as students of V. Vasilko, future directors Smirnov, P. Kovtunenko, V. Gakkebush. The best plays of that period: "Marco in Hell," "Song about the Candle" by I. Kocherga, "Haydamaks" by L. Kurbas, "Macbeth
Macbeth
The Tragedy of Macbeth is a play by William Shakespeare about a regicide and its aftermath. It is Shakespeare's shortest tragedy and is believed to have been written sometime between 1603 and 1607...
" by W. Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
, "Vassa Zheleznova" by M. Gorky
Maxim Gorky
Alexei Maximovich Peshkov , primarily known as Maxim Gorky , was a Russian and Soviet author, a founder of the Socialist Realism literary method and a political activist.-Early years:...
, "Platon Krechet" by A. Korniychuk. During the first 10 years the theater visited main cities of Donbas (Voroshilovgrad, Mariupol
Mariupol
Mariupol , formerly known as Zhdanov , is a port city in southeastern Ukraine. It is located on the coast of the Azov Sea, at the mouth of the Kalmius River. Mariupol is the largest city in Priazovye - a geographical region around Azov Sea, divided by Russia and Ukraine - and is also a popular sea...
, Gorlovka, Donetsk
Donetsk
Donetsk , is a large city in eastern Ukraine on the Kalmius river. Administratively, it is a center of Donetsk Oblast, while historically, it is the unofficial capital and largest city of the economic and cultural Donets Basin region...
, Makiivka
Makiivka
Makiivka, also spelled Makiyivka is an industrial city located in eastern Ukraine within the Donetsk Oblast , from the capital Donetsk. As of the 2001 Ukrainian Census, the city's population is 389,589 inhabitants, of these 178,475 are men and 211,114 are women. It is an important steel...
, Slavyansk
Slavyansk
Slavyansk or Slaviansk may refer to:*Sloviansk, a town in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine*Slavyansk-na-Kubani, a town in Krasnodar Krai, Russia...
), as well went outside the region - to Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
, Minsk
Minsk
- Ecological situation :The ecological situation is monitored by Republican Center of Radioactive and Environmental Control .During 2003–2008 the overall weight of contaminants increased from 186,000 to 247,400 tons. The change of gas as industrial fuel to mazut for financial reasons has worsened...
, Vitebsk
Vitebsk
Vitebsk, also known as Viciebsk or Vitsyebsk , is a city in Belarus, near the border with Russia. The capital of the Vitebsk Oblast, in 2004 it had 342,381 inhabitants, making it the country's fourth largest city...
, Gomel, Mogilev
Mogilev
Mogilev is a city in eastern Belarus, about 76 km from the border with Russia's Smolensk Oblast and 105 km from the border with Russia's Bryansk Oblast. It has more than 367,788 inhabitants...
, Leningrad
Leningrad
Leningrad is the former name of Saint Petersburg, Russia.Leningrad may also refer to:- Places :* Leningrad Oblast, a federal subject of Russia, around Saint Petersburg* Leningrad, Tajikistan, capital of Muminobod district in Khatlon Province...
, Rostov-on-Don
Rostov-on-Don
-History:The mouth of the Don River has been of great commercial and cultural importance since the ancient times. It was the site of the Greek colony Tanais, of the Genoese fort Tana, and of the Turkish fortress Azak...
, Kiev
Kiev
Kiev or Kyiv is the capital and the largest city of Ukraine, located in the north central part of the country on the Dnieper River. The population as of the 2001 census was 2,611,300. However, higher numbers have been cited in the press....
.
After the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War the theater was not completely evacuated, the majority of the team members went to the front. A small group of the actors joined the theatrical company of the Artyomovsk
Artyomovsk
Artyomovsk is a town in Kuraginsky District of Krasnoyarsk Krai, Russia, located south of Krasnoyarsk. Population: It was founded in 1700 as the settlement of Olkhovka . In 1860, it was referred to as a mining settlement of Olkhovsky . It was granted town status in 1939....
Theatre and was evacuated to Kzyl-Orda (Kazakh SSR). The other, somewhat bigger group has joined in with Gorlovka theater, called Stalin Drama Theater, on their way to Central Asia
Central Asia
Central Asia is a core region of the Asian continent from the Caspian Sea in the west, China in the east, Afghanistan in the south, and Russia in the north...
and worked in Jalal-Abad
Jalal-Abad
Jalalabat is the administrative and economic centre of Jalal-Abad Province in southwestern Kyrgyzstan, with a population of about 150,000...
, Kyrgyz SSR.
After the liberation of the Donets Basin
Donets Basin
Donbas or Donbass , full rarely-used name Donets Basin , is a historical, economic and cultural region of eastern Ukraine. Originally a coal mining area, it has become a heavily industrialised territory suffering from urban decay and industrial pollution.-Geography:Donbas covers three...
, in January
January
January is the first month of the year in the Julian and Gregorian calendars and one of seven months with the length of 31 days. The first day of the month is known as New Year's Day...
and March
March
March is in present time held to be the third month of the year in both the Julian and Gregorian calendars. It is one of the seven months which are 31 days long....
1944 both troupes returned to Stalino. The after-war period is significant for such theater performances: "Roksolana" by P. Zagrebelny, "People's Malachy" by N. Kulish , "Don Juan
Don Juan
Don Juan is a legendary, fictional libertine whose story has been told many times by many authors. El burlador de Sevilla y convidado de piedra by Tirso de Molina is a play set in the fourteenth century that was published in Spain around 1630...
" by Jean-Baptiste Moliere, "Zoyka apartment" by M. Bulgakov
Mikhail Bulgakov
Mikhaíl Afanásyevich Bulgákov was a Soviet Russian writer and playwright active in the first half of the 20th century. He is best known for his novel The Master and Margarita, which The Times of London has called one of the masterpieces of the 20th century.-Biography:Mikhail Bulgakov was born on...
, Gogol's "Revisor", "Some Like It Hot
Some Like It Hot
Some Like It Hot is an American comedy film, made in 1958 and released in 1959, which was directed by Billy Wilder and starred Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and George Raft. The supporting cast includes Joe E. Brown, Pat O'Brien and Nehemiah Persoff. The film is a remake by Wilder and I....
" by A. Arkadin-Shkolnik and other.
On September 28, 2001 the Theatre was granted an Honorary Academic status, and on November 26, 2009 Presidential Decree granted it the National status.
Building
The Theater has been open for a long time in the premises of Donetsk Musical theater (from 1947 - the Donetsk Opera and Ballet Theatre). The theatre building was constructed in 1961, the design was made by architect Ye. Chechik. In 2005, the complete reconstruction of the theater building and adjacent territory, was done, without interrupting the creative work of the theatre team. As a result, a unique Donbas theater complex with five scenes appeared.The troupe
The theater runs a highly professional orchestra under the direction of chief conductor, Honoured Art Worker of Ukraine Ye. Kulakov, and a group of artists, singers under the leadership of choirmaster, Honored Art Worker of Ukraine T. Paschuk, staffed by professional ballet group led by chief choreographer Vladimir Maslov.Several popular and honoured artists of Ukraine work in the troupe:
- Yelena Khohlatkina, People's Artist of Ukraine
- Mikhail Bondarenko, Honored Artist of Ukraine
- Andrey Borislavskiy, Honored Artist of Ukraine
- Vasily Gladnev, Honored Artist of Ukraine
- Viktor Zhdanov, Honored Artist of Ukraine
- Sergei Lupiltsev, Honored Artist of Ukraine
- Valentina Polyakova, Honored Artist of Ukraine
- Andrey Romaniy, Honored Artist of Ukraine
- Tatiana Romaniuk, Honored Artist of Ukraine
- Galina Skrynnik, Honored Artist of Ukraine
- Vyacheslav Khokhlov, Honored Artist of Ukraine
Performances
The theater became one of the centers of Ukrainian theatrical culture of the Donetsk region, so Ukrainian plays prevail in the repertory: Natalka PoltavkaNatalka Poltavka
Natalka Poltavka is a Ukrainian play written by Ivan Kotlyarevsky.-History:The play was written in 1819 in the Ukrainian language, first performed in 1821 in the city of Kharkiv, though it was not available in print until 1838...
, Moskal-Charivnik
Moskal-Charivnyk
Moskal-Charivnyk , is a 1995 musical comedy by the Ukrainian filmmaker Mykola Zasieyev-Rudenko based on the book by Ukrainian writer Ivan Kotliarevskyi. The film features a detailed portrayal of Ukrainian culture, showing the beauty of Ukrainian traditions, music, costumes, and language.-Plot:The...
, Eneyida by I.Kotlyarevskiy
Ivan Kotlyarevsky
Ivan Petrovych Kotlyarevsky , was a Ukrainian writer, poet and playwright, regarded as the pioneer of modern Ukrainian literature. Kotliarevsky was a veteran of the Russo-Turkish War.- Biography :...
, Shelmenko the Batman, Honcharovka brocage, Blue Turkey shawl, The Witch by G. Kvitka-Osnovyanenko, My Thoughts
Kobzar (book)
Kobzar , is a book of poems by Ukrainian poet and painter Taras Shevchenko, first published by him in 1840 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. Taras Shevchenko was nicknamed The Kobzar after the publishing of this book...
by T. Shevchenko
Taras Shevchenko
Taras Hryhorovych Shevchenko -Life:Born into a serf family of Hryhoriy Ivanovych Shevchenko and Kateryna Yakymivna Shevchenko in the village of Moryntsi, of Kiev Governorate of the Russian Empire Shevchenko was orphaned at the age of eleven...
, One Hundred Thousand by I. Karpenko-Kary, Zillya (eng. - potion
Potion
A potion is a consumable medicine or poison.In mythology and literature, a potion is usually made by a magician, sorcerer, dragon, fairy or witch and has magical properties. It might be used to heal, bewitch or poison people...
) by O.Kobylyanska
Olha Kobylianska
Olha Julianivna Kobylianska was a Ukrainian modernist writer and feminist.-Origin:Kobylianska was born in Gura Humorului in Bukovina in the family of a minor administration worker of Ukrainian noble decent from the Dnieper region. She was the fourth child of seven of Maria Werner and Julian...
, Chasing Two Hares, Ne sudylos’ (eng. It Was Not Destined), Talan (eng. Destiny) by M. Staritskiy, Orgy, Kassandra by Lesya Ukrainka
Lesya Ukrainka
Larysa Petrivna Kosach-Kvitka better known under her literary pseudonym Lesya Ukrainka , was one of Ukraine's best-known poets and writers and the foremost woman writer in Ukrainian literature. She also was a political, civil, and female activist....
, The Law by V. Vinnichenko, Bitter Almond Fairy by I.Kocherga, People's Malachy by M. Kulish
Mykola Kulish
Mykola Kulish was a Ukrainian prosaic, drama writer, pedagogue, veteran of the World War I, Red Army veteran.-Brief biography:Kulish was born in a village of...
, Roksolana by P.Zagrebelniy
Pavlo Zahrebelnyi
Pavlo Arhypovych Zahrebelnyi or Zagrebelnyi was a Ukrainian novelist....
and many others.
As for world
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
drama
Drama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
, the theater's repertoire
Repertoire
Repertoire may mean repertory, a system of theatrical production and performance scheduling, but may also refer to:* Musical repertoire* Repertoire Records, a German record label specialising in 1960s and 1970s pop and rock reissues...
consists of various styles: Twelfth Night, or What You Will
Twelfth Night, or What You Will
Twelfth Night; or, What You Will is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–02 as a Twelfth Night's entertainment for the close of the Christmas season...
, The Taming of the Shrew
The Taming of the Shrew
The Taming of the Shrew is a comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written between 1590 and 1591.The play begins with a framing device, often referred to as the Induction, in which a mischievous nobleman tricks a drunken tinker named Sly into believing he is actually a nobleman himself...
by William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
, Caligula
Caligula (play)
Caligula is a play written by Albert Camus, begun in 1938 and published for the first time in May 1944 by Éditions Gallimard. The play was later the subject of numerous revisions. It was part of what the author called the "Cycle of the Absurd", with the novel The Outsider and the essay The Myth...
by A.Camus, The Government Inspector, A Christmas Night
Christmas Eve (Gogol)
Christmas Eve , literally translated The Night Before Christmas, is the first story in the second volume of the collection Evenings on a Farm Near Dikanka by Nikolai Gogol.-Plot:...
, Sorochyntsy Fair by N. Gogol
Nikolai Gogol
Nikolai Vasilievich Gogol was a Ukrainian-born Russian dramatist and novelist.Considered by his contemporaries one of the preeminent figures of the natural school of Russian literary realism, later critics have found in Gogol's work a fundamentally romantic sensibility, with strains of Surrealism...
, Intrigue and Love
Intrigue and Love
Intrigue and Love , , is a five-act play, written by the German dramatist and writer Friedrich Schiller...
by F. Schiller
Friedrich Schiller
Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller was a German poet, philosopher, historian, and playwright. During the last seventeen years of his life , Schiller struck up a productive, if complicated, friendship with already famous and influential Johann Wolfgang von Goethe...
, The Dancing Master
The Dancing Master
The Dancing Master is a dancing manual containing the music and instructions for English Country Dances. It was published in several editions by John Playford and his successors from 1651 until c1728...
by Lope de Vega
Lope de Vega
Félix Arturo Lope de Vega y Carpio was a Spanish playwright and poet. He was one of the key figures in the Spanish Golden Century Baroque literature...
, The Marriage of Figaro
The Marriage of Figaro
Le nozze di Figaro, ossia la folle giornata , K. 492, is an opera buffa composed in 1786 in four acts by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, with Italian libretto by Lorenzo Da Ponte, based on a stage comedy by Pierre Beaumarchais, La folle journée, ou le Mariage de Figaro .Although the play by...
by Mozart, libretto by L. Da Ponte, Bel Ami
Bel Ami
Bel Ami is French author Guy de Maupassant's second novel, published in 1885. An English translation titled Bel ami, or, The history of a scoundrel: a novel appeared in 1903....
by Guy de Maupassant
Guy de Maupassant
Henri René Albert Guy de Maupassant was a popular 19th-century French writer, considered one of the fathers of the modern short story and one of the form's finest exponents....
, Colombe by J. Anouilh
Jean Anouilh
Jean Marie Lucien Pierre Anouilh was a French dramatist whose career spanned five decades. Though his work ranged from high drama to absurdist farce, Anouilh is best known for his 1943 play Antigone, an adaptation of Sophocles' Classical drama, that was seen as an attack on Marshal Pétain's...
, Zoyka Apartment by M. Bulgakov
Mikhail Bulgakov
Mikhaíl Afanásyevich Bulgákov was a Soviet Russian writer and playwright active in the first half of the 20th century. He is best known for his novel The Master and Margarita, which The Times of London has called one of the masterpieces of the 20th century.-Biography:Mikhail Bulgakov was born on...
, Some Like It Hot
Some Like It Hot
Some Like It Hot is an American comedy film, made in 1958 and released in 1959, which was directed by Billy Wilder and starred Marilyn Monroe, Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon and George Raft. The supporting cast includes Joe E. Brown, Pat O'Brien and Nehemiah Persoff. The film is a remake by Wilder and I....
by A. Arkadin-Shkolnik based on the popular B. Wilder movie and others.
There is as well a Small Stage, created after the renovation of the theatre; it is functioning as the site for creative exploration and bold experiments, and has won recognition from many viewers.
Much attention is paid to the young theater audiences, the best fairy tales are staged in the theatre: Vasilisa the Beautiful, Puss in Boots by S. Prokofiev, Scarlet Flower, Kotigoroshek by A.Shiyan, The Nutcracker by A. Hoffmann and many others.