Yanka Kupala National Academic Theatre

The National Academic Yanka Kupala Theatre (white russian Нацыянальны акадэмічны тэатр імя Янкі Купалы ) is the oldest theater in Belarus. The ceremonial opening of the first public theater in Belarus took place on 14 September 1920.

History

The history of the present Yanka Kupala theater dates back to the year 1887. In 1884 the building of the former Municipal Theatre in Minsk burned out. On the initiative of the Minsk governor Trubetskoi the municipal Duma on August 18, 1887 decided to build a new theater building. With the construction of the theater architect Karol Kaslouski and Kanstanzin Uvjadsjenski were commissioned. The ceremony of the laying of the cornerstone was opened by the Grand Duke Vladimir Alexandrovich and his spouse Maria Pavlova ( Marie of Mecklenburg ), they threw some gold coins on the site of the future building and laid the first foundation stones of the foundation. The opening of the new theater took place on 5 June 1890.

In 1920 the theater the status of the state theater was re-opened as a White Russian State Theater ( Беларускі Дзяржаўны Тэатр ) on 14 September 1920. Among the first performances of the productions dominated with strongly pronounced national issues, including the works of Yanka Kupala and Micah Tscharot.

During the Second World War, the theater troupe worked in the Russian city of Tomsk, the actors showed the performances at the front, played in hospitals.

In 1955 the theater the honorary title and the status of the academic theater and was officially declared the five best theaters of the Soviet Union.