Марко Лукич Кропивницький як засновник школи професійного театру в Україні

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to analyze the activities of M.L. Kropyvnytsky and to justify his role as the founder of the school of Ukrainian professional theater, actor, director, playwriter and public figure. In October 1882 in Elisavetgrad (now – the city of Kropyvnytskyi) he organized a troupe which included the best actors of that time. In time this theater was named “The Theater of Corypheus”. M.L. Kropyvnytsky attached great importance to the creation of a single ensemble and as a director held the basis of the integrity of the troupe in his hands. As a playwriter, M.L. Kropyvnytsky created more than 40 dramatic works to form the original repertoire of Ukrainian theater. Methodology. The methods of the historical and cultural studies, theoretical and genre-style analysis are used. The scientific novelty. Prior to the emergence of theater schools, directors and actors provided special education in Ukraine, passing on their experience and knowledge to other members of the troupe. M.L. Kropyvnytsky founded a practical school of Ukrainian professional theater and raised several generations of actors of the national stage. The educational institution in this case was the stage. It is the practical activity of M.L. Kropyvnytsky – training and education of future artists that was the school itself. According to the historian Dmytro Volodymyrovych Antonovych, “all the troupes and all the actors of the Ukrainian theater of that time were actors of Kropyvnytsky’s school, they were either his students or students of his students, but everyone was of his school”. Thanks to the Theater of Coryphaeus, the second half of the XIX century came to be seen in the Ukrainian history as the golden age of Ukrainian theater. Therefore, the question who was the founder of this theater, his personality and methods of work will always be relevant. Conclusions. The foundation by M.L. Kropyvnytskyi in 1882 of a practical school of Ukrainian professional theater, education and training of several generations of actors of the national stage testify to the historical significance of Mark Lukych Kropyvnytskyi’s contribution to the creation of the Ukrainian professional theater – the Theater of Coryphaeus. The importance of this event is evidenced by the UNESCO resolution in 1982 to celebrate the historic anniversary of the organization by M. Kropyvnytsky of the first troupe of the Ukrainian Corypheus.