ENG: An Anthology of Ukrainian Drama

This anthology serves as the foundation of Ukrainian professional theater. It traces the path from the earliest amateur endeavors to the creation of the “theater of the luminaries,” which conquered European stages.
Here is a detailed overview of each author’s contribution across four key stages:
1. Ivan Kotlyarevsky: The Birth of the National StageKotlyarevsky sparked a revolution by replacing the artificial literary language with the living Poltava dialect. His *Natalka Poltavka* became the first Ukrainian social and domestic drama.
Significance: He brought a new hero to the stage—an honest, strong-willed girl of the people—dispelling the myth that the Ukrainian language was suitable only for farces. His plays established the tradition of combining words, songs, and folk rituals.
2. Hryhorii Kvitka-Osnovianenko: Master of Characters and SatireIf Kotlyarevsky gave the theater a language, then Kvitka-Osnovianenko filled it with vivid characters. In works such as “Shelmenko the Valet,” he created the image of a shrewd servant who plays his masters like a fiddle.
Significance: The author introduced elements of comedy of manners and sharp social satire into drama. He showcased the richness of the Ukrainian character—from sincere lyricism to witty cunning.3. Taras Shevchenko: Heroism and Psychological DepthShevchenko is represented by the drama *Nazar Stodolia*, which radically changed the direction of the theater’s development. Instead of the customary evening gatherings, he introduced a historical backdrop (the Cossack era) and a profound internal conflict.
Significance: This was the first attempt to create a true tragedy rooted in Ukrainian soil. Shevchenko introduced the themes of personal dignity, the struggle for love against the will of wealthy parents, and the idea of Cossack brotherhood.
4. Mykhailo Starytskyi: Organizer and ReformerStarytskyi was the man who transformed the Ukrainian play into a full-fledged theatrical production. He not only wrote his own works (such as “Chasing Two Hares” or “Oh, Don’t Go, Hrytsko...”) but also masterfully staged the prose of other authors.
Significance: He made theater professional: with sets, elaborate makeup, and sophisticated musical accompaniment. Starytsky proved that Ukrainian drama could be both a box-office hit (popular with the public) and deeply philosophical.