Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theater

Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theatre
The theatre in 2021
Interactive map of Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theatre
Former namesDonetsk Regional Drama Theatre
General information
Architectural styleMonumental Classicism
LocationTheatre Square, 1, Mariupol, Mariupol, Ukraine
Inaugurated1887[1]
DestroyedMarch 16, 2022[2] (original)
Official nameБудівля драматичного театру (Building of the Drama Theater)
TypeArchitecture, History, Monumental Art
Reference no.2056-Дн

47°05′46″N 37°32′55″E / 47.09611°N 37.54861°E / 47.09611; 37.54861

Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theatre (Ukrainian: Донецький академічний обласний драматичний театр, romanized: Donetskyi akademichnyi oblasnyi dramatychnyi teatr; Russian: Донецкий академический областной драматический театр, romanized: Donetskiy akademicheskiy oblastnoy dramaticheskiy teatr) or Mariupol Drama Theatre (Ukrainian: Маріупольський драматичний театр; Russian: Мариупольский драматический театр, romanized: Mariupolsky dramatichesky teatr) is a theatre in Mariupol in southern Ukraine. The modern theatre was constructed in 1960 in the approximate location of the former Church of Mary Magdalene.[3] The theatre was known as Donetsk Regional Drama Theatre before it was given academic status in November 2007.[1]

It was largely destroyed by Russian military airstrikes on 16 March 2022,[2] resulting in the estimated deaths of at least a dozen to over 600 people, in what was labelled a war crime. In 2023, restoration work began on the building with Mariupol under Russian occupation. The restoration of the drama theatre was completed in November 2025.[4]

March 2022 Russian airstrike

On 16 March 2022, the theatre was largely destroyed by airstrikes during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Hundreds of civilians were apparently sheltering in the building at the time.[5][6] Satellite imagery taken prior to and immediately after the attack showed the Russian word for children, "Дети", painted on the ground at the front and rear of the building, to inform Russian military planes that children were sheltering in the building.[7] The day after it was destroyed, the Cabinet of Ministers of Italy approved a proposal to offer Ukraine the resources and means to rebuild the theatre as soon as possible.[8] The estimated death toll ranges from at least a dozen[9] to over 600 people.[10] The attack was described by Amnesty International as a "clear war crime" by Russian forces.[9]

Reconstruction under Russian occupation

In 2023, a construction team from Saint Petersburg began restoration work on the building.[4] During the renovation, the troupe temporarily relocated to the refurbished Philharmonic building. The restoration of the drama theatre was completed in November 2025, with the official reopening scheduled for December 2025.[4]

History

  • 1847 – Records the first time a theatrical troupe came to Mariupol, under entrepreneur V. Vinogradova. As there was no theatre in the city the troupe gave its performances in a rented barn in Ekaterininskaya street (nowadays – Lenin Av.).[1]
  • 1850–1860 – A barn in the courtyard of Popov (a local resident) provides the first theatrical venue – "The Temple of a Muse of the Melpomene". The building is fairly basic with elementary conditions, but here during several seasons many troupes performed. These included participation by provincial actors of that time: Alexandrov, Neverov, Medvedeva, Stoppel, Novitsky, Minsky, Prokofyev, Piloni and others.[1]
  • 1878 – The first professional theatrical troupe appears in the city of Mariupol.[11] The beginning of the Mariupol theatre is funded by the son of a rich merchant Vasily Shapovalov who has rented a room for the theatre.[12] The career of actors I. Zagorsky, L. Zagorsky, L. Linitskaja and others begins here.[1]
  • 1887 – Opening of the newly built theatre on November 8, named the Concert Hall (subsequently Winter Theatre). It has a big stage, comfortable seating, a place for the orchestra, and an auditorium for 800.[1]
  • 1880–1890 – Performances of outstanding masters of the Ukrainian stage took place: M. Kropivnitsky, I. Karpenko-Kary, P. Saksagansky, M. Staritsky and others.[1]
  • 1920 – A drama collective "New Theatre" under the management of A. Borisoglebsky was active in the city.[1]
  • 1934 – The theatre is created the All-Donetsk musical-dramatical theatre based in Mariupol (the head – A. Smirnov, the main director – A. Iskander).[1]
  • 1959 – The Mariupol theatre is given the status Donetsk State Theatre.[1]
  • 1960 – November 2, the official opening of the re-constructed theatre and the first performance takes place.[1]
  • 1978 – The theatre company celebrates the 100th anniversary. The collective is awarded an Honour for significant merits in the theatrical arts.[1]
  • 1985 – The small stage of theatre is opened.[1]
  • 2007 – On November 12, by order of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the theatre was given the status of an academic theatre.[1]

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Theatre of Mariupol.

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Донецкий академический областной драматический театр, г. Мариуполь" [Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theatre, Mariupol]. Kino-Teatr.RU. Archived from the original on 22 November 2021. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Ukraine: Mariupol city council claims Russia destroys crowded theater — live updates". Deutsche Welle. 2022-03-16. Archived from the original on 2022-03-16. Retrieved 2022-03-16.
  3. ^ "Church of St. Mary Magdalene". mrpl.city. Retrieved 20 March 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "Occupiers preparing to reopen drama theater in Mariupol". www.ukrinform.net. 2025-11-01. Retrieved 2025-11-20.
  5. ^ Lister, Tim; Voitovych, Olga; John, Tara (16 March 2022). "Russians bomb Mariupol theater where hundreds had taken refuge, officials say". CNN. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  6. ^ "Ukraine war: Mariupol theatre 'sheltering hundreds' bombed". Sky News. 16 March 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2022.
  7. ^ "Mayhem in Mariupol". FirstPost. 17 March 2022. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
  8. ^ Franceschini, Dario [@dariofrance] (March 17, 2022). "Italy is ready to rebuild the Theatre of Mariupol" (Tweet). Retrieved 2022-03-20 – via Twitter.
  9. ^ a b "Ukraine: Deadly Mariupol Theatre Strike 'A Clear War Crime' By Russian Forces". Amnesty International. 30 June 2022. Archived from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 30 June 2022.
  10. ^ Hinnant, Lori; Chernov, Mstyslav; Stepanenko, Vasilisa (4 May 2022). "AP evidence points to 600 dead in Mariupol theater airstrike". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 4 May 2022. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  11. ^ Demidko, Olha O. (2018-04-20). "Зародження та становлення театрального мистецтва в Маріуполі протягом ХІХ ст" [Origin and formation of theatrical art in Mariupol during the XIX century.]. Науково-теоретичний альманах "Грані" (in Ukrainian). 21 (3): 70–75. doi:10.15421/10.15421/171840. ISSN 2413-8738.
  12. ^ "Донецький академічний обласний драматичний театр м.Маріуполь" [Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theater, Mariupol]. Mariupol Rada. Retrieved 19 March 2022.
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