Theater History

Kiev Academic Puppet Theater is the first puppet theater and one of the oldest theaters in Ukraine. The main distinguishing features of the theater are an original approach to the modern art of puppet theater, a passion for creativity and a commitment to traditions.

The theater was founded by People’s Artist of Ukraine Alexander Solomarsky. It was he, who was the head of the director’s laboratory, who created the theater on its basis and took on the role of director and artistic director.

The professionalism of the puppeteers was recognized back in 1937, when the theater won first place at the first All-Union Festival of Puppet Theaters for the productions of “The Magic Grain” and “Leizer der Breiser”. The high position and success of the theater is reinforced by the award received for the play “The Wolf and the Seven Little Kids” at the All-Ukrainian Puppet Theater Show in 1946. For his exceptional contribution to the formation of puppet theater, the upbringing of the growing generation with the help of theatrical art, and the holding of international festivals that strengthen creative relations between peoples, in 1995 the theater was awarded the International Friendship Award.

Thanks to the enterprise of the Kiev State Puppet Theater, since 1991 the International Festival of Puppet Theaters has been held in Kiev, known as one of the most elite festivals in Europe. Leading puppet theaters from around the world take part in it.

So Alexander Solomarsky created the theater, behind which today a rich creative biography of more than 90 years.

Repertoire

The Kiev Academic Puppet Theater is an interweaving of devotion to the traditions of puppetry and the continuous search for new expressive means in the theatrical sphere. Currently, the theater’s current repertoire includes more than 40 performances created based on the works of Ukrainian and foreign authors, different in styles and genres.

Many interesting performances were staged for children: from the classic "Our Merry Kolobok", "Bremen Town Musicians", "Thumbelina", "The Ugly Duckling" and "Pokatigoroshok" to the unusual for the Ukrainian audience "Tree of Happiness", "Peter Pen", "Sembo", “The Mystery of the Queen of the Roads” and “New Adventures of Pif”.

In addition to performances for children, the evening repertoire also includes performances for adults: “How Guska died”, “Love of Don Perlimplin”, “Forest Song”, “Decameron”, “For Two Hares”, “Divine Comedy”.

Performances in the theater are staged in Ukrainian.

Theater staff

The troupe of the theater has 30 professional puppeteers, graduates of the best creative educational institutions of Ukraine. Among the artists of the theater are real virtuosos of puppet art, transmitting their unique creative experience to youth.

In a bright professional troupe of the theater are actors of all generations.

Honored Artists of Ukraine L. Yasinovskaya (theater actress since 1970) and S. A. Churkin (graduate of the St. Petersburg Institute of Theater, Cinema and Music).

The artistic director of the theater is Chernikova Irina Aleksandrovna (Honored Worker of Culture of Ukraine). The main artist is Danko Nikolai Ivanovich.

The real legend of the Kiev Academic Puppet Theater is Yuriy Ivanovich Sikalo, People's Artist of Ukraine, who served as the main director of the theater for almost half a century. The theater is grateful to the outstanding successes for the artistic director Nikolai Ivanovich Petrenko, who devoted 30 years of his life to his beautification.

Theater Kiev Academic Puppet Theater