On Manizer Street in Kharkov, in the shadow of fir trees and linden trees, a residential building lurks, notable for the fact that the Actor’s House occupies the ground floor. This is one of the few urban theater centers that has reached a European level. On its stage, more than 15 non-state acting studios and groups work. Some are just starting their creative work, others have long been known to the theater public, such as New Stage, Amadeus, Nika, Theater 19, and New Theater.
Actor's House, Kharkov
It is located in a residential building, built in 1929 of the last century. In the postwar years, it housed a puppet theater. Since 1968, the house was occupied by the Ukrainian Theater Society. After the reconstruction and extension of additional premises in 1972, the building was transferred to the use of the House of the Actor. Since that time, evenings have been held here dedicated to stage masters and young actors, meetings with spectators, creative meetings with theater groups touring in Kharkov, and performances.
In 2005, the Kharkov Theater Center (CTC) was created on the basis of the House of Actor as a charitable foundation for combining the activities of non-governmental theaters, public organizations and commercial structures. Its main goal is to raise the culture in Kharkov to a higher level.
Kharkov Theater Center
Within the framework of the founders' action program, the Actor’s House in Kharkov was radically reconstructed during the year: a large hall with 200 seats was rebuilt, dressing rooms and technical rooms were repaired and improved. Transformed and the lobby. Future plans include restoration of the main and courtyard facades.
In connection with the expansion of the CTC's activities, a small stage with a transformer hall for 70 seats was built. The part of the performances that require the conditions of a small hall to create greater stage expressiveness has been moved here. During the reconstruction of the premises, original planning solutions were used that completely transformed the Actor's House.
Kharkov is the only city in Ukraine that owns a free theater venue. It enables new acting studios to show their talent and improves their touring activities within the framework of the CTC.
Creative activity of the theater center
Unusual and vibrant productions gather full halls of spectators in the House of Actor. Kharkov Theater has the opportunity to see more than 60 performances per month on its two stages. Concerts, exhibitions, meetings are held here. Much attention is paid to the organization of festivals: the international small theater Teatronic and the annual one called Curbalesia, in which performances of private theaters take part. Support for young directors, scenographers, actors, the organization of creative evenings, master classes, competitions and, of course, the staging of performances - the Actor’s House is tirelessly engaged in all of these. Kharkov can be proud of its center. It is here, on the stage of the CTC, that the magical world of art always reigns and the theatrical heart of a cultural city beats.