How the Mykolaiv Drama Theater was restored after a rocket attack in 2022

18:30, 22 April, 2024

Mykolaiv Academic Art Drama Theater. Photo: Serhii Ovcharyshyn, NikVesti

The director of the Mykolaiv Academic Art Drama Theater, Artem Svystun, told what was possible to restore after the Russian missile attack in September 2022: who helped in the repair and when the summer venue will open its doors to visitors.

This was reported by the NikVesti correspondent.

After the enemy attack, several theaters from different regions of Ukraine helped preserve the building of the Mykolaiv Drama Theater for the winter period, and already in the spring of 2023, thanks to donor and grant assistance, repair work began on the site and the first floor of the theater. Another 7 million hryvnias were allocated to eliminate the consequences of the enemy attack by Mykolaiv RMA.

According to the director, 80% of the consequences of the destruction of the theater's summer playground have already been eliminated. Repairs were made in the dressing rooms on the first floor, the tailoring workshop, the museum, and the theater director's office. It was also possible to restore the landscape design of the site, fence and sculpture.

«Donations for restoration came from all over the world. For example, they sent us 200 francs from England, with these funds we restored the first dressing room. Other dressing rooms were restored with donations and additional funds. Then donor organizations joined the financing. The non-governmental organization «House of Europe» set up a stage in the shelter. Thanks to donations and grant projects, we equipped the chamber stage: updated the lighting, bought furniture. By order of the Department of Capital Construction, the facade was repaired, insulation, all windows and doors were replaced. They made a new fence. Many problems remain, but we have closed the priority issues,» said Artem Svystun.

Before the start of repair work. Photo: Serhii Ovcharyshyn, NikVesti

After carrying out repair work. Photo: Serhii Ovcharyshyn, NikVesti

Now the actors of the theater greet the audience in the big hall, in the shelter and «scene on the stage». The small stage of the theater, which was built only four years before the full-scale war, is still destroyed.

«The small stage is a global issue. Now we are looking for donors, grant givers who will restore it. About 5 million hryvnias are needed for this. This is the replacement of the roof, renewal of the electrical network, fire safety, light and sound equipment, «clothes» of the stage, furniture,» explains Artem Svystun.

The men's toilet room also remains destroyed. According to the director of the theater, it is planned to create conditions for people with limited physical abilities in this dressing room.

«We are starting to consider the issue of inclusion. Unfortunately, the number of people with disabilities is increasing. Among them are boys returning from the front, and people who have suffered physical problems. We are looking for grants for inclusion and for the needs of people with disabilities. We want to equip toilets and lifting mechanisms,» he explained.

Before the start of repair work. Photo: Serhii Ovcharyshyn, «NykVesty».

After carrying out repair work. Photo: Serhii Ovcharyshyn, «NykVesty».

According to the director, during the last heating season, two boilers broke down - this time Denmark came to the rescue.

«The boiler room was completely out of order. The boilers were damaged as a result of five flights. But Denmark supported us and provided boilers and two boilers. Project and estimate documentation is currently being developed to dismantle the old boilers and install new ones. We have been doing this for two months. Because it is already necessary to prepare for the heating season. Poland also provided us with dehumidifiers, and partners from the Ukrainian Institute from Poland supplied generators,» said Artem Svystun.

Later, the theater management plans to open a summer playground for theater visitors. And the official opening of the summer theater season at the site is planned for June 1.

«We have planned the summer season, in the event of an air raid, we will take shelter. In July, June, August, we plan to hold performances, concerts, events and festivals here. We are currently negotiating with Copenhagen about financial support for the staging of Andersen's famous work The Little Mermaid. We plan to implement this project on June 1,» added Artem Svystun.