Kyiv Ivan Franko Theatre Invited Kupalauski Theatre's Team to Celebrate Their 100th Anniversary in Ukraine

The Ministry of Culture of Ukraine has already supported the initiative.

The Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre celebrated its centenary in August. In connection with the quarantine that continues in Ukraine due to the coronavirus epidemic, the solemn anniversary program was held only now, Radio Svaboda reports.

General Director and Artistic Director of the theatre people's artist of Ukraine Mikhailo Zakharevich from the stage suggested that the dismissed team of the Kupala Theatre celebrate its 100th anniversary in Kyiv, on the stage of the legendary Ukrainian theatre. This initiative was received by the audience with a storm of bursts.

Mikhail Zakharevich told why he decided to support Kupalauski Theatre's Team.

The initiative was supported by the authorities

"Our theatre has long-standing creative ties with the Kupalauski Theatre since the time when Valery Rayevsky worked there. We made contact, put on plays - we had Raevsky, we went to Kupalovsky, to Belarus. That is why, in difficult times for Belarus, we must, of course, offer a friendly shoulder to our brothers from the Yanka Kupala theater," Mikhailo Zakharevich said.

According to him, the initiative has already been supported by the Ministry of culture of Ukraine.

"The audience reacted very favorably to my proposal, which I announced at the celebration of the 100th anniversary of our theater. We had a storm of claps when I announced this initiative from the stage. The audience took it with enthusiasm to help Belarusians. After all, 100 years only happen once"

"We are not afraid of anything!"

The head of the Ukrainian theater added that he is not afraid that if the dismissed team is supported, they will lose the opportunity to tour in Belarus and maintain contacts with the Yanka Kupala Theatre:

"We are not afraid of anything. If we need to support our friends, we will support them, even when we have some bad weather on the street."

We will accept it at any time

Mikhailo Zakharevich added that he is waiting for the dismissed team's reaction to his initiative to discuss all organizational issues and is ready to make changes to the poster of his theatre.

"If our Belarusian colleagues respond to the offer, we will discuss all the prospects - if possible, what will happen, and how many people will come to us. We must discuss all organizational issues. I had an invitation to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the theatre signed by Pavel Latushka and Mikalai Pinihin. I was going to go to congratulate Kupalauski Theatre's team. But I understand that there will be no anniversary there on this day, so I had this idea to invite them here. I don't know if they will have time to organize before the 14th, but we agree to accept them in September and October, when they will be able to come and celebrate the anniversary."

"I hope that Belarusians will win"

The head of the Ukrainian theatre said that he watches Belarus's events, empathizes with Belarusians, and is extremely proud of such solidarity of the nation:

"I hope that the people of Belarus will achieve freedom, and I feel very sorry for those who are arrested. We went through almost the same period, and we then lost our employee, who became a Hero of Ukraine on the Maidan. We understand what is happening in Belarus more than anyone else. May God grant you health and victory! We are concerned and will do everything in our power to help our fellow theatre colleagues celebrate their centenary as best they can."