From November 14 to 23, the final stage of the 8th All-Ukrainian Theatre Festival-Award 'GRA' (Great Real Art) is taking place in Ukraine. Over the course of nine days, an international jury will review 14 productions included in the competition's shortlist, concluding with a ceremonial announcement of the winners. The event is organized by the National Union of Theatre Artists of Ukraine, which has once again involved foreign experts in evaluating the works.
Geography and Format of the Finals
Screenings of the final performances are distributed across five cities—Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, Rivne, Vinnytsia, and Kyiv, allowing the competitive works to be presented to audiences in different regions of the country. This format turns the finals into a full-fledged touring event: audiences in each city see a part of the selected program, and the professional community gets the opportunity to discuss the season live. According to the organizers, the final stage serves not only as a summation of results but also as a platform for professional exchange between theatre companies.
International Jury from Five Countries
This year, five experts from Poland, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, and the United States were invited to evaluate Ukrainian productions. The jury includes theatre researcher and Jagiellonian University professor Ewa Bal, founder of the Swiss festival Culturescapes Yurian Koyman, Théâtre du Soleil actor Arman Sargsyan, as well as Dutch playwright and director Alexander Schöder and Oskar Eustis. The presence of specialists from various theatrical traditions, according to the organizers, ensures an independent and international perspective on the domestic stage.
Nominations and a New Category
The jury will determine the best works across seven general and eight individual categories, covering directing, acting, set design, choreography, musical score, dramaturgy, and other areas of theatrical art. Special attention is due to this season's innovation: a new category, 'Best Supporting Role', has been added to the individual awards, expanding the recognition of actors working within an ensemble.
Theme of the Season: Reinterpreting Myths
Among the notable trends in the competition selection, the organizers highlight theaters turning to mythological plots and searching for new meanings within them. While last year's finals featured productions dedicated to Volodymyr Ivasiuk and the cultural processes of the 1990s, this season myth becomes a key tool for reflection. This theme is also reflected in the festival's visual concept—from stage imagery in classical styling to symbolic graphics accompanying the ceremony.
Significance of the Festival in Wartime Conditions
According to festival director Bohdan Strutynskyi, holding 'GRA' in wartime has special significance for the Ukrainian theatre community. The event helps present domestic art to an international audience, unite companies from different regions, and create opportunities for professional exchange. Strutynskyi specifically noted the readiness of foreign experts to travel to Ukraine despite the security situation, which he considers a significant gesture of support in itself.
The Finals and Prospects for International Dialogue
The 8th 'GRA' will conclude on November 23 with an awards ceremony. The festival's concept emphasizes that theatre exists not only thanks to performances, but also thanks to the community of artists, their stories, creative pursuits, and daily work. Organizers view the acquaintance of foreign experts with Ukrainian productions as the basis for future joint projects, tours, co-productions, and the participation of Ukrainian theatres in foreign festivals.
