Learn about the best theater shows coming up this season
As the weather gets colder and various outdoor activities get less and less plausible, indoor entertainments grow in popularity. Autumn and winter are generally considered hot seasons for the theater industry, and even those who don’t consider themselves true theater-goers start scanning playbills for good shows.
Not long ago, my leisure activity laziness was punished: as a rule I don’t buy theater tickets in advance, so when I was came up with the sudden idea to go see a play, I couldn’t grab a single seat – the performance was sold out. The evening was surely spoiled, as I had already imagined myself sitting in front of the stage and enjoying the performance for the rest of the evening. At the same time I learned a good lesson: find tickets at least several hours before the show. I’m sure that this rule will be of use to all theater lovers, so get out there and get your tickets, but before you do, here’s a list of possible venues and productions.
Choosing a stage
The most frequently visited theatres in Kyiv are probably the oldest ones: Ivan Franko National Drama Theater, Lesya Ukrayinka Russian Drama Theater, Kyiv State Operetta Theater, and National Opera and Ballet Theater, all of which are located in the central part of the city. These theaters stage classic repertoires and host performances by world-famous troupes and artists. Another place, namely The Theater of Drama and Comedy on the Left Bank, is becoming more and more popular, gradually occupying a niche between the aforementioned giants. The interior of the theatre is far from the glittering golden decorations of the classic theatres, yet the plays are sometimes performed on a much higher level.
Smaller theaters like Koleso, Dakh, Bravo, and Kyiv Young Theater usually stage classic plays with new informal interpretations as well as completely new works, which employ uncommon theatre techniques, such as videos, installations, light-and-music effects etc. These theaters occupy small premises and despite not being widely known to the average theatre-goer, they are always crowded.
Keeping in mind the abundance of theaters in Kyiv, I scanned the playbills and found the upcoming premiers, best performances, and most exciting programs of the next few months in Kyiv.
Hot tickets
Choosing the best plays from the extensive theater repertoires was difficult, so I picked the more popular productions and those which are considered the “calling card” of each theatre.
The most renowned play of the Ivan Franko National Drama Theater that will be shown soon is “Pygmalion” (based on the original play by Bernard Shaw), featuring the actors’ couple Anatoliy Khostikoyev and Nataliya Sumska, and Khostikoyev’s common stage partner Bohdan Benyuk. The play is a classic interpretation of the famous drama and therefore all the characters are clothed in the suits and fancy dresses popular in early twentieth century England. Another noted play which will be staged is the satirical “Kin 4th,” written by the Russian playwright Grigoriy Gorin, whose works were originally staged in large Moscow theaters, such as the Lenkom. The abovementioned Anatoliy Khostikoyev plays the leading role in this play as well, along with actors Oleksiy Bohdanovych and Nataliya Sumska. To the romantic tunes of The Beatles, the actors tell about the life of Kin, the famous actor in the fourth generation and his relations with the King himself.
If you want to enjoy the acting of Bohdan Stupka, the most noted Ukrainian actor and art director of Ivan Franko Theater, go see the play “Tevye Tevel” (“Tevye the Milkman”), based on the drama by Sholem Aleichem. The play is filled with Hebrew music and dances and is comprised of two acts opposite in nature – the first one full of humor and energy, and the second filled with depression and despair. One of the most unconventional plays in the classic theater is probably “Natalka Poltavka” (based on Ivan Kotlyarevskiy’s work), which features music by the popular ethno-rock musician Oleh Skrypka, who plays one of the parts as well.
The Lesya Ukrayinka Russian Drama Theater is staging the popular drama “Derevya Umirayut Stoya” (“The Trees Die Standing”) based on the work by Alehandro Kasona, as well as the comedy by Neal Simon “Posledniy Pylko Vlyublenniy” (“The Last Desperately in Love”), featuring noted actors Valentin Shestopalov and Larisa Kadochnikova. The first play, dedicated to the life of a strong personality, has one peculiarity – the set decoration consists of long bamboo trunks that symbolize the firmness of character. The other play is considered one of the best written by the “uncrowned king” of comic plays that were widely staged on Broadway in the 1960s-70s, so it will be a great chance to raise your spirits.
Among the plays staged at the Drama and Comedy Theater on the Left Bank, the most reputed are “Melkiy Bes” (“The Petty Demon”), based on the novel by Fedor Sologub, and “Zriteli Na Spektakl Ne Dopuskayutsa” (“Spectators are not Admitted to the Performance”) by Michael Frane, both staged by director Yuriy Odinokiy. “The Petty Demon” features the prominent comedic actor Vladimir Goryanskiy and tells the story of the provincial schoolteacher who strives for a higher position at any cost, while “Specatators are not Admitted to the Performance” reveals the lives of the actors behind the stage and presents a good interpretation of the well-known Shakespeare quote “All the world’s a stage.”
Lovers of opera and ballet can watch the greatest performances from the repertoire of the National Opera and Ballet Theater: the famous ballets “Lebedinoye Ozero” (“Swan Lake”) by Tchaikovsky, “Romeo and Juliet” by Sergey Prokofiev, and “Giselle” by Adolphe Adam. Among the operas to be presented are “Aida” and “Traviata” by Giuseppe Verdi, “Madam Butterfly” by Giacomo Puccini, and “Natalka Poltavka” by Mykhaylo Lysenko.
The State Theater of Operetta continues to stage “Silva” and “Bajadere” by Imre Kalman, “Letuchaya Mysh” (“The Bat”) and “Maskarad” (“Masked Ball”) by Johann Strauss.
Among the worthy plays that will be staged during this season in the smaller theaters are “U Kyevi Na Podoli, abo De Vy Sokhnite Belyo” (based on “Yarmarka” – “Fair” by M. Yanchuk) and “Zhinky Mozarta” (“Mozart’s Women” by Felix Mitterer) in the theater Koleso. This cozy theater is located in the very center of Podil, on Andriyivskiy Uzviz, and in addition to its pleasant atmosphere, features a number of first-class actors, such as Oleh Primohenov.
Another original theater is the Dakh Center for Contemporary Art that, together with the ethno-music band “DahaBraha,” launched the new project “Mystic Ukraine,” which consists of interpretations of Shakespear’s tragedies “King Lear”, “Richard the Third”, and “Macbeth” that were also praised in the Shakespearean Globe theater in London.
The Kyiv Lypky Young Spectator Academic Theatre, known as TUZ, stages plays mostly for the young audience, but always offers several performances that are interesting for the older visitors as well. Among the upcoming plays that are worth visiting are: “Camera Obscura,” based on the novel by Vladimir Nabokov, “Smak Medu” (“Taste of Honey”), based on the drama by Sheila Delainy, and “Vovky Ta…” (“Wolves and…”), based on the play “Wolves and Sheep” by Aleksandr Ostrovskiy. Each of these theaters has its own charm which you will either fall in love with or dislike, but you won’t know until you’ve visited them.
Be the first to see
Premieres are the part of the new theatre season that is most anticipated by theater goers, especially when the plays star renowned actors. Thus the visitors of Ivan Franko Theater can rejoice – at the end of October it will host the play “Lev I Levytsya” (“The Lion and the Lioness”), based on the work by Irena Koval, featuring Bohdan Stupka in the leading role. On Nov. 24 comes another premiere – “Vesillya Figaro” (“The Marriage of Figaro”), based on the play by Pierre Beaumarchais, and this time featuring Ostap Stupka (the son of the abovementioned theater veteran Bohdan Stupka). In December the theater is planning to stage “Kaydasheva Simya,” originally written by Hryhoriy Kvitka-Osnovyanenko and a renewed version of “Master and Margarita” by Mikhail Bulgakov, featuring Oleksiy Bohdanovych in the role of Master. However the first premiere to take place will be “Malenki Podruzhni Zlochyny” (“Small Marriage Evils”), based on the work by Erik Shmitt and directed by the well-known Polish movie and theatre director Krzysztof Zanussi.
The most recent premiere at the Lesya Ukrainka Theater was the play “Soldatiki” (“Soldiers”), based on the work by Zherebtsov, which will be presented at the theater for the next three months. In November the theater will present a joint project of Canadian, Ukrainian, and Russian troupes – the play “Babye Leto” (“Indian Summer”), based on the play by Aivan Manchell.
As for the Theater on the Left Bank, it is finally preparing two grand premier plays – the comedy “Tayna Strasti Zhguchey” (“The Mystery of Fiery Passion”) by Edmond Rostand in November, and “Vishneviy Sad” (“Cherry Garden”) by Anton Chekhov, to be staged by the Latvian theater director Linas Zaikauskas, with premieres on Dec. 10 and 24, respectively. Both plays claim to be in a classic style without any modern additions.
The loudest premiere of the season promises to be the new performance from the Kyiv Modern Ballet troupe – “Shchelkunchik” (“Nutcracker”) based on Tchaikovsky’s classical ballet to be shown at Operetta Theater. Paradoxical costumes and uncommon ballet choreography will surely stun the spectators on New Year’s Eve – Dec. 30 and 31. The recent premiere of the Kyiv Modern Ballet, “Bolero” will be shown once again on Dec. 3.
The Lesya Ukrainka Theater looks ready to receive at least two guest performers. The first will be three performances (on Nov. 1-4) by the Russian writer and actor Yevgeniy Grishkovets: “Planet,” “Po-Po,” and “Odnovremenno” (“At the Same Time”). The plays are marked by extremely subjective style, colored by friendly intimacy and satire. Like all solo performers, Yevgeniy Grishkovets is a controversial persona who has as many fans and detractors, but whose performances are still worth seeing at least once. The second performer is the Polish Drama Theater, which will stage two plays: “Pod Nebom Parizha” (“Under the Paris Sky”) and “Cafe Sax” on Nov. 12-14.
Our younger spectators should clap their hands, since in November, the Lypky Theater will stage the plays for children by the Byelorussian Youth Theatre, namely: “Prygody Bibigona” (“The Adventures of Bibigon”), “Metelyk” (“Butterfly”), “Mishchanyn-Shlyakhtych” (“Parvenu”), and “Doroga na Vifliyem” (“The Road To Bethlehem”).
National Opera of Ukraine (50 Volodymyrska, 279-1169).www.opera.com.ua
Kyiv State Operetta Theater (53/3 Chervonoarmiyska, 287-2630). www.kiev-operetta.kiev.ua
Ivan Franko Ukrainian Drama Theater (3 Ploshcha Ivana Franka, 279-5921). www.franko-theatre.kiev.ua
Lesya Ukrayinka Russian Drama Theater (5 Bohdana Khmelnytskoho, 234-4223). www.rusdram.dom.ua
Drama and Comedy Theater on the Left Bank(25 Brovarskiy Prospect, 517-8980). www.drama-comedy.kiev.ua
Actor Theater (40 Velyka Zhytomyrska, 482-1048). www.teatr-aktor.kiev.ua
Dakh Center of Contemporarty Art (136 Chervonoarmiyska, 529-4062). www.dax.com.ua
Kyiv Lypky Young Spectator Theater (15/17 Lypska, 253-6219). www.tuz.kiev.ua
Koleso Theater (8 Andriyivskiy Uzviz, 425-0527).
Bravo Drama Theater (79 Olesya Honchara, 486-4022)
Kyiv Young Theater (17 Prorizna, 235-4218)
