Russian Drama Theatre. Lesya Ukrainka: description, history, repertoire and reviews

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Theater is a beautiful art that gives an unforgettable experience. Unfortunately, there are fewer and fewer fans of theatrical performances, and the genre is gradually dying. But theater workers and actors are sure that the unique art will not perish, because the theatrical spirit is present in every person, even in those who are far from art.

How to find the theater of Russian drama. Lesia Ukrainka?

The famous theater can be found in the very heart of Kyiv. Tourists and residents of the city call it simply "Russian drama". The building is located in the historical part of the city, just not far from the Golden Gate, and at the intersection of two beautiful sophisticated streets - Bogdan Khmelnitsky and Pushkinskaya.

History of the theater

The official date of the beginning of the existence of the Theater falls on 1926, when the city authorities decided that it was necessary to create a Russian state drama. The first season at the theater was opened on 15 October. In 1941, the theater was named after Lesya Ukrainka.

The National Theater of Russian Drama Lesya Ukrainka takes its tollbeginning in the 19th century, when the Russian Empire was full of one-day theatrical entreprises that appeared and disappeared in large numbers. In 1891, a Russian theater was created in Kyiv. They became the entreprise of Nikolai Solovtsov, a talented actor and director. Members of this troupe later became the "old men" of the Kyiv Drama Theatre. It was here, in the modern building of the Lesya Ukrainka Theater, that the troupe of Mykola Solovtsov played their first performances. The sophisticated building on the Kyiv street went down in history as the Bergonier House.

Those who still remember the old days, with awe in their hearts, remember the first performances that became legends ("The Living Corpse", "The Moral of Mrs. Dulskaya", "Trees Die Standing", etc.).

But time goes on. In 1994, Mikhail Reznikovich became the head of the theater. He first visited this building back in 1963, when he graduated from the directing courses of Georgy Tovstonogov. It was this visit that forever chained Reznikovich to the walls of the theater, to the team. He himself calls it his "first feeling". He gave many performances in Moscow, Novosibirsk, St. Petersburg, Beijing, Varna … Each time the director returned to the walls of his native theater.

A little about the director

Russian Drama Theatre. Lesia Ukrainka is headed by a well-known representative of the theatrical art of the Russian Federation, Academician Mikhail Reznikovich. He was born in Kharkov, the creative path was started in 1955 within the walls of the Drama Theater in Lvov. Then he enters the exact sciences at the Lviv Stateuniversity. I. Franko. There Mikhail Yuryevich studied for only 3 years. After that, he decided to get into the Leningrad State Institute of Music and Cinema to become a director. The number of directorial works of Reznikovich is simply impressive - about 50 productions.

Famous people

Any theater is precious, first of all, outstanding actors and directors. Theater of Russian Drama. Lesya Ukrainka is very rich in talented artists. It should be recalled that the theater to this day remains the theater of the ensemble. The most talented actors who worked here include: Mikhail Romanov, Viktor Dobrovolsky, Viktor Khalatov, Ada Rogovtseva, Lyubov Dobzhanskaya, Kirill Lavrov. Among the directors, one cannot forget about Konstantin Khokhlov, Vladimir Nelli, Georgy Tovstonog, Anatoly Petritsky. The theater is also proud of its artists: Leon Alshits, Daniil Leader, David Borovsky.

Repertoire

The Kyiv Theater of Russian Drama named after Lesya Ukrainka is famous for its repertoire, which will not leave any spectator indifferent. Its pleasant feature is that the repertoire always has performances for every taste, and everyone can watch their favorite production.

Foreign and Ukrainian tourists praise the repertoire of the theater very much, because whenever you come, you can always see something beautiful and impressive. To date, the repertoire consists of the following performances: Edith Piaf: life inpink”, “Alexander Vertinsky. Lord's Ball…”, “Indian Summer”, “Angel or Sexual Neurosis of Our Parents”, “Mad Blood”, “Warsaw Melody”, “Valentine's Day”, “Marriages Are Made in Heaven”, “One Everywhere”, “The Cherry Orchard”, “Captured by passions”, “We all come from childhood”, “Two, not counting the dog”, etc. The variety of theater productions is constantly updated, delighting the audience with comical, serious and deep performances. At the same time, you can always watch chic old productions.

Russian Drama Theatre. Lesia Ukrainka: poster

The poster of the theater is edited every day. On weekdays, the actors show about 3 performances, on weekends - 4 performances each. You can get a ticket for the performance at any time, the main thing is not to miss it. The theater poster is signed 10-11 days in advance, so you can choose a convenient time and day of the show in advance.

Theatre Museum

The Lesya Ukrainka Russian Drama Theater has its own museum. This tradition was started by S. I. Filimonov back in 1961. The current employees of the museum continue it with great fervor and diligence, establishing direct contacts with their viewers.

The museum boasts many unique and valuable things, photographs, documents. Modest photographs that capture a theatrical performance or an actor are striking in their grandeur. Also here you can find notes, outdated posters, texts of plays, various outfits, autographs, texts of roles. In the museum you can learn about the theatre's genealogy, first performances, prominent figures, and also look at their photos.

Separately, it is worth highlighting all the props of the actors, wigs, clothes, pieces of furniture, musical instruments, antique jewelry. All this strikes the imagination of the guest who enters the museum. Another separate group of museum treasures is the works of artists, sketches, models. The visual arts go straight back to the roots of the theatre.

Crossing the threshold

Inside the Lesya Ukrainka Academic Theater of Russian Drama resembles a real fairy tale come to life. It seems that the whole world is returning to another era, and as if reality does not exist. The main scene impresses with scope, brightness and saturation. In addition to it, there is also the space of David Borovsky, the foyer of the stalls, the mezzanine and 2 tiers. Great attention is paid to lighting, which creates a solemn and spacious atmosphere, consistent with the spirit of the performance.

There are different reviews about the theater, but it is often not liked by those who do not like dramatic art at all. Many people visit the theater every day, leaving words of gratitude and delight. You need to buy a ticket in advance, because they disperse quite quickly. Despite the fact that in the modern world the theater is not at all the first place in the pyramid of human interests, it is still alive and will live for many more centuries.