On November 8, a major exhibition titled "Splіna Scena" (Shared Stage) will open in Kyiv, bringing together unique works by theatre artists from various periods of the 20th century. The exposition will be hosted at the Museum of Theatre, Music and Cinema Arts of Ukraine, introducing the public to set designs, costume sketches, graphics, and an unusual puppet vertep. The project aims to deeply explore the interconnection of Ukrainian and Jewish cultural traditions through the prism of theatrical art and scenography.
Unique Exhibits and a Rare Vertep
A central focus of the exhibition will be an unusual puppet vertep created by renowned artist Iryna Uvarova. A distinctive feature of this work is that the vertep is housed inside a trunk styled as a travel suitcase. This construction was used in a historic 1994 production titled "All Will Be Well" by the Kyiv City Puppet Theatre. Notably, the sole role in that performance was played by dramatic actor Charles Feuerberg, giving the production a special intimacy and drama.
Scenography as a Dialogue of Cultures
The organizers emphasize that the primary goal of the "Splіna Scena" project is to demonstrate the close interaction between the Ukrainian and Jewish components of national culture. According to co-curator Sergiy Rudenko, the strength of any national art is directly determined by its level of internal diversity. The theatrical stage acts as an effective tool that helps overcome primitive stereotypes and shape a comprehensive shared optics through the joint experience of historical stories and creative practices.
International Partnership and Support
The realization of this significant cultural project was made possible through the collaboration of the Lviv Scenography Gallery and the Museum of Theatre, Music and Cinema Arts of Ukraine. Curatorial duties were undertaken by Tetiana and Sergiy Rudenko. The exhibition is organized in close partnership with UNESCO as part of a major initiative aimed at preserving Jewish documentary heritage in Ukraine, with financial support from the European Union.
Significance of the Project for Cultural Heritage
The opening of the "Splіna Scena" exhibition in November 2026 is of strategic importance for understanding Ukraine's multinational heritage. The project demonstrates how the visual language of theatre can preserve historical memory and strengthen dialogue between communities. Amid modern challenges, such initiatives allow not only for a reassessment of the 20th-century theatrical avant-garde and classics but also lay a solid foundation for future cultural research.
