Yanka Kupala National Academic Theatre, Dramatic theater in Lyeninski District, Belarus
The Yanka Kupala National Academic Theatre is a drama theatre in Minsk, Belarus, housed in a building from 1890 designed by architects Konstantin Vvedensky and Karol Kozlowski. It has a main auditorium and stages around 25 different productions each season.
The building was completed in 1890 and served as a general meeting hall before hosting the First Congress of the Armies of the Russian Western Front in December 1917. The theatre company itself was founded in 1920 and took the name of the Belarusian poet Yanka Kupala.
The Yanka Kupala Theatre is one of the few stages in the country where performances are given mainly in Belarusian, making it a rare place to hear the language spoken aloud in a formal setting. The repertoire draws on both classical plays and newer works written by local authors.
The theatre sits on Engels Street in central Minsk and can be reached on foot from several parts of the city center. Booking ahead is a good idea, especially for popular shows during the main season, as seats fill up fast.
In August 2020, after the entire staff was dismissed following protests against the government, the former employees formed the Free Kupalauski Theater as an independent group. This collective continued to perform through online platforms and alternative venues, keeping its work visible outside the official building.
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