Kiev Academic Puppet Show Theatre, Kiev

The Kiev Academic Puppet Show Theatre is the oldest of the two puppet theatres in Kiev. It was founded in 1927, stemming from the Young Spectator’s Theatre. In 1929, the puppet branch grew completely independent from its “parent” organisation and launched a solo programme.

Its first location was the former Rote Fane cinema. Then, from 1936 to 1955, the theatre occupied premises of the current House of Actor, after which it moved into the Choral Synagogue where remained until 1997. Following that, for eight years, the Academic Puppet Show Theatre had travelled from on place to another, searching for a suitable stage until, in 2005, a fairytale, castle-like venue was purposely built for it. Apart from a stage, inside this building is also a children café and an exhibition of puppets brought from all over the world.

The vast majority of the puppets employed in the theatre have been in service since its early days, back in the 1920s, and are undisputed favourites of the audience. There also have been new “cast members” added over the years, and the theatre's repertoire has changed significantly as well to attract adult audience.