Modern Ukrainian theater through the prism of All-Ukrainian Theatre Festival and Award «ГРА-GRA» (2018-2020)

Abstract

The All-Ukrainian Theatre Festival and Award “ГРА-GRA” («Great Real Art») has been founded by the National Union of Theatre Artists of Ukraine in 2018. It turned out to be the first nation-wide Theatre Festival and Award in the whole period of Ukrainian independence.

Festival and Award “GRA” is held on a competitive basis once a year, based on the results of the past calendar year, and presumes participation of professional theatre companies of all forms of ownership without exception (state, municipal, private, etc.).

Winners of the Festival will get award in the six nominations for theaters: “for the best drama performance”; “for the best performance for children”; “for the best musical play in the genre of opera/operetta/musical”; «for the best choreography/ballet/plastic performance»; «for the best chamber performance (up to 150 spectators)”; «for the best experimental performance (at the juncture of scenic and artistic genres)”.

The main goal of the Festival and Award is to bring all theatres of the country together and to present their best achievements to Ukraine and the international community, to promote the national scenic art in all its genres, styles and forms, to identify the key trends, and to encourage the development of the competitive environment in the Ukrainian theatre.

The article outlines the history and background of the Festival and presents the official statistic data for 2018-2020. It also analyzes the algorithm of granting the Festival and Award prizes and considers the main tendencies in the theatrical life of present-day Ukraine which the Festival has revealed – decentralization and «personalization», but not institutionalization, a too narrow circle of creative theatre directors, and self-exclusion of certain theatres/cities/regions from the theatre mainstream.

The article also focuses on publication of almanac of Festival and Award as on attempt to revive «paper» theatrical criticism in Ukraine.