Theater in Ukraine

 
Theater in Ukraine (, "Teatralne mystetsvo Ukrayiny" - Theatric Arts of Ukraine) is one of forms of fine arts that is also used as a way of cultural expression and identification of a level of cultural development in Ukraine. As a form of art is an artistic expression of life with a help of an actor's stage performance in front of spectators.
The Ukrainian theater as a national type of theater based on the native culture of Ukraine customs, traditions, language. The first traces of the Ukrainian theater can be identified in the early 19th century.
Historical background.
Early years.
The first theatrical acts could be traced back to 11th century when on the territory of Ukraine performed entertainers who are known in history as skomorokhi. There also were acts of religious drama based on the local church traditions. The Christian faith was well expressed in the pre-Christian theater of Ukraine. It was enriched with prehistoric elements of deep pride and respect for the Supreme Being, as emphasized in the Ukrainian Christian Millennium with a philosophical Christian concept. By 16-17th centuries religious dramas were conducted in schools and universities of Kyiv, Lviv, Ostroh. In 17-18th centuries there became very popular festivities of vertep..
The first stationary theater in Ukraine was opened (in Kharkiv 1789) in 1795 in Lviv which at that time was part of the Austrian Empire. The theater was located in the former Jesuit Church complex, the Kosciol of Saint Christ and Franciscan Monastery (1460-1848). The stationary theaters in the rest of Ukraine did not open until later, while theatrical troupes already existed and performed "on the road". However, in the early 19th there started to appear theaters in Kyiv (1806), Odessa (1809), Poltava (1808).
The founder of the classical Ukrainian drama became Ivan Kotlyarevsky who headed the Poltava Theater, while Hryhoriy Kvitka-Osnovyanenko became the founder of artistic prose in the modern Ukrainian literature. Burlesque and expressiveness tied with charm and humor, that characterize works of those two, have set a definition for an academic theater in Ukraine for some time.
Modern period.
In the second half of the 19th century in Ukraine became popular the amateur theater. In those amateur circles started their career the coryphaei of Ukrainian theater Mykhailo Starytsky, Marko Kropyvnytsky and Ivan Karpenko-Karyi. The merit of rapid theater development belongs to the renowned family of Tobilevychi, members of which often performed under stage names Ivan Karpenko-Karyi, Mykola Sadovsky and Panas Saksahansky. Their private estate Khutir Nadia near Kropyvnytskyi was transformed into a National historic memorial site. Every of them not only created his own troupe, but also was a renowned actor and director. The leading female star of the Ukrainian theater of that time was Maria Zankovetska. The first Ukrainian professional theater (1864 - 1924) was the Ruska Besida Theater in Lviv.
Soon after Ukraine its own statehood in 1918 in Kyiv was created the State Drama Theater and the "Young Theater" (later the theater "Berezil") of Les Kurbas and Hnat Yura. On a theatrical stage has appeared a cohort of talented actors: Amvrosiy Buchma, Maryan Krushelnytsky, Olimpiya Dobrovolska, Oleksandr Serdyuk, Natalya Uzhviy, Yuriy Shumsky and others. The State Drama Theater continued traditions of the realism-psychologism school, while the Young Theater was promoting Avant-garde. With the creation of Berezil theater its stage became a sort of experimental ground. It's no accident that mock-ups of the Theatrical Association "Berezil" received a gold medal at the 1925 International Exposition of Modern Industrial and Decorative Arts in Paris. At the theater were introduced for the first time the plays of renowned Ukrainian writers and dramaturges Mykola Kulish and Volodymyr Vynnychenko. Thanks to the genius Les Kurbas who combined several talents of director, actor, dramaturge and interpreter of world literature, the works of William Shakespeare, Henrik Ibsen, Gerhart Hauptmann, Friedrich Schiller and Molière were conceptualized anew at the Ukrainian scene and staged the unknown to the Ukrainian spectators until that time plays of the European dramaturges.
Theatrical library, museum and the first magazine take their beginning from the artistic association "Berezil". The contemporary artists to this day turn to the experimental searches of Les Kurbas who was repressed during the Stalinist period. In our time in Kyiv takes place the International Theatrical Festival "Artistic Berezillya" commemorated to Les Kurbas.
Theaters.
There are two major groups of theaters in Ukraine: music-drama theaters and theaters of opera and ballet. Beside those there are also theaters of operetta, puppet theaters and others. Some ten theaters were recognized as national, an additional title to academical.Presently, there are more than 120 theatres (state-funded and independent) functioning here, and the audience numbers are around 5.6 million per year.
Origins of Ukrainian theater art:.
The first references to theatrical performances on the territory of Ukraine date backed to the second decade of the seventeenth century. They were brought from the West by the Jesuits. They joined to the brotherhood schools, and other Ukrainian schools. They were used on a large scale, as Jesuit propaganda, defense of Orthodoxy, and defense of the Ukrainian people. The oldest theatrical works were the texts, which have survived to this day. They are the play "Jacob Javantovich" (1619 AD), and the play "Christmas Day proclamation", which was performed in honor of the " Bishop of Lviv Jeremiah Tisarovsky "(c. 1615 AD). The first known production of Ukrainian theater, was two Ukrainian plays that were performed, during the tragedy of Polish occupation , in honor of the death of "John the Baptist" on August 29(1619 AD), in an exhibition near ''Lviv".
The origins of the Ukrainian theatrical art go back to ancient times. This was evident in the folk games, dances, songs and rituals, in the eleventh century. It is known that theatrical performances by clowns, in the era of "Kievan Rus". There were elements of theater during church ceremonies. This is evident from during the frescoes of "Saint Sophia's Cathedral" in "Kiev" (eleventh century). The "Lviv Brotherhood School" and "Ostro Academy" were considered important centers for the development of religious drama at that time. In the 17th and 18th centuries AD. "Nativity scenes" spreat on a large scale. It was a roving puppet theater, which performed Christmas plays and social and local events.
The Art of Theater in independent "Ukraine ":.
In "Transcarpathia , there" were a large incoming of intellectuals from the Western People's Republic of "Ukraine" and the Ukrainian People's Republic, due to the loss of the state. "The Russian Theater" "was established. ""Mykola Sadovsky" "was the boss of it. During the years of independence, many new theaters appeared in" Ukraine. The "interest in folk theater increased . Ukrainian Dramatic Art has been increasingly integrated into the European cultural. Director of theater ""Roman Viktyuk"", who established The World Theater of aesthetics in the late twentieth century. He gained international acclaim. Ukrainian director "Andrei Zahlak" is famous outside of Ukraine.There is number of talented actors in Ukrainie."Bohdan Stubka", "Natalia Somska", "Ada Rogovtseva", "Anatoly Hustikoyev" and others have starred with great success in domestic and foreign films. There are a number of international theater festivals, which are held in Ukraine every year. They became famous in Europe, for an example: "Kiev May" in "Kiev", "Ukrainian Golden Lion" Festival, "Drabina Festival" (2008) in "Lviv", "UI Drama Festival" in "Lviv", and evenings of Ternopil Theater, which performed for the first time in Ternopil, “Chersonese games” in “Sevastopol”, “Melbomene of Tavria” in “Kherson”, “Christmas Mystery” in “Lutsk”, and “Interlialka” in “Uzhgorod”."
A music concert was held at the "Shamiya" theater, in the State of Kuwait, as part of the "Ukrainian Cultural Days", under the auspices of the National Council for Culture, Arts and Literature. A number of Members of the Diplomatic corps. Features of Ukrainian art were presented, through various singing and distinctive performances.
Development of Ukrainian literature and theater:.
The Ukrainian artist and poet "Teras Grigorievich Shevchenko" developed the Ukrainian language. He made it a literary language. He presented many nationalist poems. His poems were close to the Folk Song. They were known by its wonderful music. They were close to the language of everyday life. "Shevechko" contributed to The Development of Ukrainian Literature. "Grigory Federevich is considered Kvitka"(1778-1843 AD) wrote many realistic novels, for an example: "Mary" and "The Unfortunate Oksana". "Yevgeny Gribionka" wrote his collection of stories, "Ukrainian Tales" in (1834 AD). "Marco Vovchuk" wrote her short novel, "The University Student"(1860 AD). "Ivan Smyonevich Levitsky" (1838-1918 AD) presented many realistic novels, for an example: "The Kidashev Family" (1878 AD). The most important writer of the plays were: "Mark Krupevnitsky"(1840-1910 AD), the satirical writer "Ivan Tobilovich"(1845-1907 AD), "Ukra Neon Mikhailo Kutsiobinsky"(1864-1913 AD), and "Ivan Bakovlevich Franco"(1856-1916 AD), who presented many poetry collections, the novel "The Laughing Jorisawv", his story group "The Squeezed Snake", his play "The Stolen Happiness", and the saga "Moses".
After the revolution of 1905 AD in Russia, Ukrainian literature developed and flourished with great prosperity. the novelist "Kotsiubinsky" wrote many novels, for an example: "The Mirage" in its first and second parts, the novel "Ghosts of Forgotten Ancestors"(1912AD) ). "Lisa Ukrainka" (1871-1913 AD) presented the poem "Spring in Egypt", and her long poem "Engraving in Antiquities", her play "Advocate Martianus" (1913 AD), and her play "Cassandra" (1908 AD).
After the Communist revolution (1917 AD), a new era began. The most important poets are: "Maxim Rilsky"(1895-1964 AD), "Vladimir Susiora"(1898-1965 AD), "Mikhailo Simenko" (1892-1939 AD), "Mykola Pagan"(1904-1983), "Evan Drach"(1936 AD). "Pavel Tychina" wrote the poetry “Psalms of the Sun” (1918 AD), and “Steel and Tenderness” (1941 AD).
The most important theater writers were : “Mykola Kulish” (1892-1962), “Evan Koucherga”( 1881 - 1952 AD), "Alexander Kornichuk" (1905-1972 AD), and the novelist "Ulys Hunchar" (1918 AD). In 1991 AD, Now "Ukraine" became independent, which had a great effect on Ukrainian literature.
Printing and its role in the development of Ukrainian literature:.
After the invention of printing technology, more than 19 printing houses were established. The first Ukrainian newspaper appeared in 1776 AD. Ukrainian literature had a great renaissance in the 16th and 17th centuries AD.
The most important poetry was written by "Taras Shevchenko", which was published in 1840 AD. The most important writers of the 19th century were: "Ivan Franco", "Lesia Ukrainaka", "Mikhailo Kusobinskyu", "Ivan Nichoy Levitsky", "Pavlo Grabovsky". The most important writers of the 20th century AD were: "Vladimir Vinchenko", "Pavlo Tishina", "Ostap Wichenia", "Vladimir Susora", "Vasil Stoss", "Ulysse Hunchar", "Lina Kostenko", "Olga Teleha", "Ivan Bahrani", "Yuri" Luba ". After "The Ukraine's independence", "The Ukrainian literary Heritage" has become easy to see.
Books about "Ukrainian drama and theater":.
" History of Ukrainian drama":.
The book is written by the Ukrainian critic and translator "Ivan Stichenko". It consists of five chapters. It is the first illustrated history of Ukrainian theater. It discusses historical issues, about "The Development of Theater Art", and aout "Latin-Slavic folk rituals, Latin-German folk rituals". Drama and "The Evangelization of Christianity in "Ukraine"." The book also gives an analysis of the works of the satirical poet and writer ""Theophanes Prokopovich"".
"Theater and Drama: A Collection of Critical Essays on Dramatic Theater and Literature":.
It is a collection of the most important articles of "Mykola Kendratovich Voronei" (1871-1938 AD), on the art of theater and theater literature,And what is the work of actors and directors, the nature of the audience, and, what are the ways that may contribute to the development of theater in the future.
"Eternal wisdom ... a school play":.
It's about a school Jesuit play called "Eternal Wisdom" (1703 AD), the book was printed in 1912 AD, written by researcher ""Volodymyr Ivanovich Rezanov""(1867-1936),Who added a brief description of the dramatic plot, with a critique and analysis of the characters,He compared this play with other Jesuit plays, and he compared it with the ""Bible"".