Our arms is the word!

Two books published by Lviv publishing house Litopys, History of the Theater by Oscar G. Brockett, Franklin J. Hildy and History of Ukrainian Theater in Galicia by Stepan Charnetsky were launched in the Kyiv-based Karpenko-Kary National University of Theater, Cinema, and Television.

The books for students and teachers of the top higher educational institution specializing in theater were presented by Bohdan Kozak, the leading actor of the Zankovetska Theater, dean of the department of culture and arts of the Lviv-based Ivan Franko National Theater, and head of the publishing house Litopys Mykhailo Komarnytsky.

“Why are we publishing non-commercial books about culture, in particular, about the history of theater? Because the word is our main weapons,” Komarnytsky considers. While presenting to everyone who takes interest in the history of the world culture and wants to have encyclopedic knowledge the thick volume History of the Theater, the publisher explains, “This book is called the theater ‘Bible.’ Because this is by far the most complete review of the history of the world theater from its origins till 2007. We have translated the book into Ukrainian and published its last 10th edition. Before that it has been translated into tens of languages. By the way, Professor Franklin J. Hildy, one of the authors of this fundamental study, will be in Kyiv and Lviv in the end of October.”

The second book is about the past of Ukrainian culture. Bohdan Kozak told in detail about The History of Ukrainian Theater in Galicia by Stepan Charnetsky, as well as about the author. This research which gathers the works of the famous Galician poet, literary critic, essayist, director Stepan Charnetsky, who among other things headed the theater Ruska besida (the monograph is dedicated to the 150th anniversary of the first professional theater in Galicia and 70th death anniversary of the author). Apart from actually the articles and reviews, the book includes over 100 photos, the oldest of which were made140 years ago.

Interesting details were told during the launch of this book, in particular, about the destiny of the Ukrainian anthem “Ukraine Has Not Yet Died,” which for the first time was performed on the stage of Ruska besida, where legendary Les Kurbas used to work. Since the beginning this theater was international, and actors of Polish and Jewish theaters performed on its stage; its mobile company of actors included performers from Great Ukraine. It will be reminded that Ukraine, which was divided then between the Austrian and Russian empires, Poland and Romania, was always united in its spiritual origins, in its culture. And Galicia, which the Kremlin Goebbelses are using as a fright, is an international intertwining of various cultures.