Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater

The Ivan Franko Theater was established in Vinnytsia in 1920 by actors from the Young Theater, led by Hnat Yura, and the New Lviv Theater, headed by Ambrosiy Buchma. The theater group was initially named the Ivan Franko New Drama Theater.

The theater opened on January 28, 1920, with the premiere of 'The Sin' by Volodymyr Vynnychenko, and had 23 premieres during its first season. The repertoire included works from the Young Theater such as 'Flooded Bell' by Gerhart Hauptmann and 'Oedipus Rex' by Sophocles.

In its early years, the theater extensively toured central Ukraine. A notable performance was the premiere of 'The Marriage of Figaro' in Vinnytsia, which was attended by representatives of the Government of the Ukrainian People's Republic. The theater faced significant challenges but continued to produce plays.

In 1923, following its tours in Donbass, the theater was designated the State Theater of the Ukrainian SSR and relocated to Kharkiv. By the summer of 1926, it moved to Kyiv, performing in the building of the former Solovtsov Theater.

Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, the theater featured prominent actors such as Ambrosiy Buchma and Natalia Uzhvy and produced notable works including 'The Marriage of Figaro' and 'Boris Godunov' by Alexander Pushkin. However, in the early 1930s, the theater shifted focus to Soviet propaganda plays.

Despite the challenges, Hnat Yura revived the classic 'The Marriage of Figaro' in 1933, which became a staple production. The theater continued to produce significant works, including Chekhov's 'The Cherry Orchard' in 1946.

The theater was granted academic status in 1940 and continued to operate during World War II, relocating to Semipalatinsk and Tashkent. Post-war, it saw contributions from various artists and maintained a strong focus on scenography and music.

In 1994, the theater was designated as the National Theater by a presidential decree. Under the leadership of Bogdan Stupka from 2001 to 2012, the theater expanded its repertoire to include works from various cultures and established itself in the international theater community.

As of 2018, Myhailo Zakharevich serves as the general director and artistic director, with Dmutro Bogomazov as the principal director. The theater continues to host the International Theater Festival of Women's Mono Performances 'Maria' annually since 2004.

The Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater remains a vital part of Ukraine's cultural landscape, located in a park area near Bankova Street in Kyiv.