Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater

Ivan Franko Theater was founded in Vinnytsia in 1920 by some of the actors of the Young Theater, led by Gnat Yura, and the actors of the New Lviv Theater, led by Ambrose Buchma. The artists united and created a theater group called Ivan Franko New Drama Theater, headed by Gnat Yura.nThe repertoire basis of the first seasons was the performances of the Young Theater: “Flooded Bell” by Hauptmann, “Molodist” by Galbe, “The King Oedipus” by Sophocles. It is interesting that Volodymyr Vynnychenko, having watched the performances of Gnat Yura at the Young Theater, brought him the play “The Sin” for production. The theater traveled a lot. One of the performances of the play “Forest song” in Gorlovka was rather peculiar. The play was performed in a huge park, on a bright sunny hot day, without any scenery, the actors were wearing only fabulous stage outfits created by Matthew Drake. However, Donbass tour was the impetus for making Franko Theater the State Theater of the Ukrainian SSR and moving it to the (back then) capital of Ukraine, Kharkiv, in 1923.