The history of Kyiv dramatic art is rich and versatile and goes back to the antiquity. Nowadays Kiev has about 50 permanent theaters, and about ten of them have the «national» status. The best known of these are the Ukrainian National Tchaikovsky Academy of Music, The National Philharmonic Society of Ukraine, Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater, Taras Shevchenko National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet, Lesia Ukrainka National Academic Theater of Russian Drama, the National Palace of Arts “Ukraine”, the National House of Organ and Chamber Music of Ukraine and others.

The Taras Shevchenko National Opera House of Ukraine

Address: Vladimirska, 50. look on map
Phone: 279 1169 (Ticket box), 234 7165 (admistrator)
Site: Official site
Info: Ticket box: daily 11.00-19.00, tickets: 5-100 hrn.

Taras Shevchenko National Opera House of Ukraine is one of the most famous theaters in Ukraine. During its rich artistic history opera has lived through many stages: from the provincial town theater to the first stage of the country, having received not only Ukrainian, but also world-wide recognition. The music of such renowned composers as N. Lysenko, S.Gulak-Artemovsky, P.Tchaikovsky, M.Rimsky-Korsakov, B. Lyatoshinsky, M.Mussorgsky, and S.Prokofiev sounds within the walls of the theater. Here you can enjoy performances by G. Rossini, G. Donizetti, S.Gounod, A. Khachaturian, and many others.

The I. Franco National Academic Drama Theater

Address: Franco sqr., 3. look on map
Phone: 279 5921 (Ticket box), 279 5991
Site: Official site
Info: Ticket box: daily 10.00-19.00, Mon 12.00-19.00; tickets: 5-100 hrn.

Not far from Khreschatic, in the Gorodetsky Street there is the I. Franco National Academic Drama Theater which was founded in 1920. According to legend, the theater is situated on the location of natural ponds, and its creative magic enchants and lures people into the theatre. This theater by right takes center place in the history of Ukrainian culture. Talented actors, directors, and composers worked and are still working here. Theatre’s repertoire includes masterpieces of the Ukrainian and world classics, namely the performances by playwrights Ivan Franko, G.Skovoroda, G.B.Shaw, I.Karpenko-Karyi, G. Gorin, M. Bulgakov, W. Shakespeare, F. Schiller, F.Dostoyevsky, A. Chekhov and many others.

The Lesia Ukrainka National Academic Theater of Russian Drama

Address: Bogdana Hmelnitskogo, 5. look on map
Phone: 235 4266
Site: Official site

In the center of Kiev, near the Golden Gate, on the corner of Pushkin and Bohdan Khmelnytsky Streets there is Lesia Ukrainka National Academic Theater of Russian Drama; it was founded in 1891 and is one of the biggest Ukrainian theaters. The theater has always been famous due to its famous and talented directors and actors – the best workmen. At different times the theatre employed actors Mikhail Romanov, Yuri Lavrov, Maria Strelkova, Lubov Dobrzhanskaya, Nikolai Svetlovidov, Eugenia Opalova, Viktor Dobrovolsky, Victor Khalatov, and some time later Oleg Borisov, Pavel Luspekaev, Kirill Lavrov, Ada Rogovsteva, directors Konstantin Khokhlov, Vladimir Nelly, Nikolai Sokolov, Leonid Varpahovsky, George Tovstonogov, painters Anatoly Petritsky, Maurice Umansky, David Borovsky, Daniil Leader, Leon Alshits, composers Boris Lyatoshinsky, Yuri Shaporin.

The National Philharmonic Society of Ukraine

Address: Volodymyrsky uzviz, 2. look on map
Phone: 278 1697 (Ticket box), 278 6291 (administrator)
Site: Official site

The National Philharmonic Society of Ukraine is situated in the Vladimirsky descent, near the European square in the centre of the city. It was founded in 1863 in the House of Merchants’ Assembly, where balls and masquerades, family holidays, charitable lotteries, musical and literary evenings were held. The history of Nikolai Lysenko Hall of Columns of the Kiev Philharmonic Society is very rich: on its stage appeared I.Arkhipova, L.Bernstein, A.Glazunov, L.Kogan, K.Kondrashin, S.Lemeshev, F.Liszt and celebrities. G. Verevka Ukrainian Choir, the Chapel bandura players of Ukraine, N. Lysenko string quartet and the Kiev Chamber Orchestra performed within the walls of the hall.

The National Palace of Arts «Ukraine»

Address: Vasilkivska (Chervonoarmiyska), 103. look on map
Phone: 247 2316, 247 2476 (Ticket box)
Site: Official site

National Palace of Arts «Ukraine» plays a key role in social and artistic life of the country. Since the opening of the palace such world-famous artists as E. Miroshnichenko, S. Rotaru, Julio Iglesias, Enrique Iglesias, Patricia Kaas, Brian Adams, Joe Cocker, Jose Carreras, Toto Cutugno, Sting, Luciano Pavarotti and many others performed on its stage. In addition, there were social and political events held there, for example the inauguration of Ukrainian Presidents, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development meeting, the commemorative events on the 2000th anniversary of the birth of Christ, the celebration of Independence Day of Ukraine, and much more.

The Kiev State Drama and Comedy Theater

Address: Brovarsky avenue, 25. look on map
Phone: 517 8980 (Ticket box)
Site: Official site
Info: Ticket box: 10.00-15.00, 16.00-20.00; tickets: 15-30 hrn.

Among the other theaters of Ukraine a special place belongs to the Kiev State Drama and Comedy Theater on the left bank of the Dnieper. This theater is very popular among viewers and is working in two languages. The first Ukrainian performance in Russian theater was the «Lie» on the play by B. Vinnichenko. Today in the theatre’s repertoire there are a lot of Ukrainian productions as well as the works of world classics: L.Tolstoy «Anna Karenina» director’s E. Mitnitsky, A.Ostrovsky «You Need Me, Gentlemen!» by the play «For Any Wise Man There is Enough of Foolishness», F.Dostoevsky «Eternal Man» director’s A. Lisovets, F. Sologub «Twisted Demon» director’s Y.Odinoky and others. Since the prize «The Kyiv Pectoral» establishment the Theater has received over fifteen awards in almost all of its nominations.

The National House of Organ and Chamber Music of Ukraine

Address: Vasilkivska (Chervonoarmiyska), 77. look on map
Phone: 528 3186
Site: Official site
Info: Tickets: from 10 hrn.

In Bolshaya Vasylkivskaya (Krasnoarmeyskaya) Street there is the National House of Organ and Chamber Music of Ukraine. A large concert organ was constructed in the Czech Republic specially for its concert hall; it has 55 registers, divided into three manual and pedal keyboards, about four thousand pipes of various sizes made of metals and precious wood. Such opportunities allow the performance of the music of different styles and trends, including works by contemporary artists. Since 1980 the National House of Organ and Chamber Music is located at the room of Nicholas church, whose interior is decorated using colored stained-glass from the Baltic countries, stylized upholstered furniture manufactured at the Lviv furniture factory, as well as high-quality parquet from the factory in Ivano-Frankivsk region.

Kiev Municipal Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet for the Youth

Address: Megigorska, 2(Kontraktovaya square).
Tel: (Ticket box) – 425-42-80. (info). 501-10-44, 425-31-16, 425-87-66.
Site: Official site

Built in 1982. In 2002 it was awarded the academic title. Has staged over 100 productions, 40 of them delivered the first time. The theater’s repertoire – operas, ballets, musicals, musical fairy tale, symphonic and vocal-symphonic programs and concerts. The theater has a long experience of joint international projects. Among which the International Ukrainian – Dutch project – the opera by Bizet’s “Carmen” (2008) and the opera by F. Poulenc “Breast Tiresias” in conjunction with the French Embassy in Ukraine (2010).

Repertory theater is aimed at viewers of all ages, special attention is paid to the so-called family performances (plays, which are visited by both parents and children), performances for young people and youth, as well as performances of classical repertoire. In 2010, the theater was working to implement for musical fairy-tale S. Banevich “Twelve months” (the premiere – December 19, 2010), planned staged a new ballet Shevchenko “Aibolit and Barmalej”

Additionally, here in Kiev you can visit a lot of different theatres with a rich repertoire, where the well-known actors and directors work. These are the Kiev State Puppet Theater, the Kiev State Theater of Young spectator on Lipki, the Kiev Municipal Opera and Ballet Theater on Podil, Kiev Theater «Actor», the Kiev Drama Theater «Bravo», and many other theaters. If you visit them you will get much pleasure and a lot of positive emotions!

Name: Les Kurbas National Theatre Center
Address: Vladimirska, 23в.
Phone: 279 1477, 279 1289
Site: Official site
Info: Tickets: for the students – 10 hrn., for the grownups – 20 hrn.

Name: Kiev Academic Theatre of Drama on the Podol
Address: Kontractova Ploshcha, 4.
Phone: 425 5489
Site: Official site

Name: Kiev Academic Theatre of Youth
Address: Prorizna, 17.
Phone: 278 7392 (Ticket box), 234 6251
Site: Official site
Info: Ticket box: 12.00-19.30, tickets: 10-30 hrn.

Name: Kiev Academic Puppet Theatre
Address: Mihaila Grushevskogo, 1а.
Phone:278 5808 (Ticket box)
Site: Official site
Info: Ticket box: Tue-Fri 11.00-14.00, 15.00-19.00, Sat, Sun and holidays 10.00-19.00, tickets: 15-20 hrn.

Name: Kiev Academik Theatre of Operetta
Address: Velyka Vasylkivska, 53/3.
Phone: 287 2630
Site: Official site
Info: Ticket box: 12.00-16.00, 17.00-19.00, tickets: 5-40 hrn, “Theatre in foyer” – 70 hrn.

Name: Kiev academic thetre of the young spectator
Address: Lipska, 15/17.
Phone: 253 6219
Site: Official site
Info: Ticket box: 11.00-18.00; tickets: 5-30 hrn.

Name: Kiev Municipal puppet theatre
Address: Miropolska, 1.
Phone: 513 1500 (Ticket box)
Info: Ticket box: Tue-Fri 10.00-17.00, Sat, Sun 10.00-15.00, tickets: 12 hrn.

Name: Kiev Theatre of Drama “Bravo”
Address: Gonchara, 79.
Phone: 486 4022 (Ticket box)
Site: Official site

Name: Kiev chamber theatre studio “Divny Zamok”
Address: Yerevanska, 11.
Phone: 242 6318
Site: Official site
Info: Tickets: 5-10 hrn.

Name: Kiev Puppet theatre (Karavan)
Address: Lugova, 12.
Phone: 461 8668

Name: Kiev Theatre “Atelye 16″
Address: Prorezna, 8, (casino “Split”)
Phone: 501 9472
Info: Tickets: 30 hrn.

Name: Kiev Theatre “Vilna Stsena”
Address: Honchara, 71.
Phone: 486 8040
Info: Ticket box: Mon-Sun 12.00-17.00, tickets: 20 hrn.

Name: Kiev Theatre-Studio “MIST”
Address: Mezhyhorskaya, 21, (M “Kontraktovaya square”)
Phone: 044 230 25 09, 425 23 93, 066 299 6163
Info: Tickets: for the grownups – 20 hrn, for the students – 10 hrn.
Site: Official site

Name: Art-Studio of the Theatral Art “Suzirya” (big stage)
Address: Yaroslavov Val, 14б.
Phone: 272 4188
Info: Ticket box: daily 10.00-19.00, tickets: 25-40 hrn.

Name: New Theatre on Pechersk
Address: Shelkovychna, 3.
Phone: 253 6550
Info: Tickets: 20-25 hrn.

Name: Free Theatre
Address: Medgigorska, 2.
Phone: 543 3266, 425 4280 (Ticket box)
Info: Ticket box: Tue-Sun 12.00-19.00, Mon day off, tickets: 15-40 hrn.

Name: Theatre “Aktyor”
Address: Velyka Dgitomirska , 40.
Phone: 482 1048, 482 1048, 272 2703
Site: Official site
Info: Tickets: 20 hrn.

Name: Theatre Center of Kiev-Mogyla Academy
Address: Ilynska, 9.
Phone: 425 2154

Name: Theatre “Koleso”
Address: Andreyevski spusk, 8.
Phone: 425 0422, 425 0527
Site: Official site
Info: Ticket box: 10.00-18.00, tickets: 20-50 hrn.

Name: Puppet Theatre
Address: Sagaydachnogo, 29/3.
Phone: 417 3058
Site: Official site

Name: Theatre “Teatrion”
Address: Heroyev Stalingrada, 24, build. 12.
Phone: 414 5776
Info: Ticket box: Mon-Sun 11.00-22.00

Name: Theatre of Plastic Drama
Address: Shelkovychna, 7а.
Phone: 253 9383
Site: Official site
Info: Tickets: for the grownups – 20 hrn, for the students, for the scholars – 10-15 hrn.

Name: Theatre “Serebryany Ostrov”
Address: Raisy Okipnoy, 2.
Phone: 529 8742
Info: Tickets: for the grownups – 15-30 hrn, for the children – 10-15 hrn.

Name: Theatre “Chorny Kvadrat”
Address: Artyoma, 1
Phone: 459 0279 (ticket reservation)
Site: Official site
Info: Tickets: 10-50 hrn.

Name: Ukrainian Theatre of Drama
Address: Prorezna, 8.
Phone: 278 2484

Name: Center of Modern Art “Dah”
Address: Velyka Vasylkivska, 136.
Phone: 529 4062
Site: Official site
Info: Ticket box: 17.00-19.00, tickets: 10-25 hrn.

Name: Gipsy Musical Theatre of Drama “Romans”
Address: Pobedy avenue, 38.
Phone: 241 8797
Info: Tickets: 15-25 hrn.