De-Russification at the Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Theater
In an interview with the publication 'Glavcom,' actor Pavlo Tekuchev revealed the stance of the theater's former director, Mykhailo Reznykovych, following Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. According to Tekuchev, Reznykovych urged the company to wait for the war to end before making changes. However, under pressure from the actors, the collective decided to proceed with renaming the institution and switching to the Ukrainian language. This internal conflict highlights the profound cultural shifts triggered by the war.
Until February 28, 2022, the theater's name included the phrase 'of Russian Drama.' After the invasion began, the company demanded the removal of those words and a transition to Ukrainian. Tekuchev stated that discussions erupted immediately in the theater's group chat. Reznykovych, however, advocated a different position, suggesting they wait for the conclusion of 'these events' without explicitly mentioning the war.
Reznykovych's Departure and Repertoire Overhaul
After the invasion started, Mykhailo Reznykovych relocated to work in Moscow, which, Tekuchev noted, confirmed his non-pro-Ukrainian stance. The actor emphasized that he was educated in Ukrainian and the entire team communicates in Ukrainian. A significant challenge was that, prior to the war, the theater's repertoire was predominantly in Russian, with only two performances in Ukrainian. The Lesya Ukrainka Theater is one of Ukraine's most prominent cultural institutions, making its linguistic shift symbolically powerful. Tekuchev stressed that the theater successfully managed a complete repertoire reboot thanks to the efforts of its acting company.
This situation underscores the complexity of de-Russification in Ukraine, particularly within the cultural sphere, where traditions and language are deeply intertwined with historical contexts.
Consequently, despite his initial call for patience, Reznykovych was ultimately compelled to acquiesce to the demands of a theater collective determined to change both its name and its artistic content.
The transformations within this theatrical environment reflect broader societal sentiments and a drive for a renewed identity amid the ongoing conflict. The shift to Ukrainian and the renaming of the theater can be seen as a step toward reclaiming cultural self-awareness and national unity.