Abstract

The analysis of archival sources, published memories of the corypheus (the leading actors) of the Ukrainian theatre Marko Kropivnitskiy, Larisa Staryts’ka-Chernyakhivs’ka, Sofia Tobilevych, materials of the periodical press (the newspapers «Trud», «Zarya», «Kievlianin») allowed to examine the question of the first performance by the Ukrainian Professional Drama Theatre the play «Nazar Stodolya» by Taras Shevchenko in Kyiv in January 1882. The question of what preceded and caused the holding of the first performance in the Ukrainian language by the Ukrainian Professional Drama Theatre in January 1882 in Kyiv was investigated. The importance of this event for the Ukrainian society and the development of the Ukrainian Professional Drama Theatre as a whole was revealed. It is noted that in her memories L.M. Staryts’ka-Cherniakhivs’ka emphasized the value of the performance of Ukrainian Professional Drama Theater in Kyiv for the Ukrainian community. She wrote that the spectators filled the lobby and corridors, faces of all present viewers were burning from ardor and enthusiasm, their eyes were shining, there was a lively noise, the native Ukrainian language rang everywhere in the theater. She noted that the spectators were dressed in Ukrainian national clothes, there were visible bright suits of Ukrainian women in the theater lodges, many children and parents were dressed in Ukrainian costumes in the theater lodges, there could be heard everywhere the native Ukrainian language in the theater. There was the abundance of the heart everywhere. It is found that the partial lifting of restrictions on the Ukrainian staging plays in 1881, made possible for Kyiviets to see the first performance of the Ukrainian Professional Drama Theatre in the Ukrainian language in 1882. It is found that the very first performance of the play «Nazar Stodolya» by the Ukrainian professional actors’ troupe consolidated the Ukrainian speaking Kyiviets and allowed them without the fear openly expressed their civic position. Exactly in Kyiv the actors’ troupe headed by Marko Kropivnitskiy became acquainted with Mykola Lysenko and Mychailo Staritskiy, who soon became the leader and director of the first united Ukrainian Professional actor troupe. It is revealed the value of the first performance «Nazar Stodolya» by the Ukrainian Professional Drama Theatre in the Ukrainian language in Kyiv in 1882. In the times of the ban of Ukrainian culture in general, Ukrainian Drama Professional Theatre became the vivifying hotbed of its existence and development.