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History

The school was established in March 1992 on the initiative of Eduard Gurvits, who at the time was the head of the Zhovtnevyi district of Odesa. He rightly believed that the building at 3 Sabaneiev Bridge — unique in its beauty, architecture, and history — should belong to the young generation of Odesans, who, together with their teachers, would turn it into a true Temple of Art.

Thus, the Center for Aesthetic Education of Children and Youth was born under the leadership of director Alla Yevheniivna Pivniak, and the first steps were taken on the challenging path of developing children's creativity.

The glorious traditions of theatrical Odesa and the absence of theatrical educational institutions in the city prompted the school's teachers to focus the institution's development specifically in this direction.

As a result, in December 1996, under the leadership of director Vladyslava Mykolaivna Sosytska, a new "School of Arts No. 1 of Theatrical Profile" emerged, while still retaining its variety and art departments. This made it possible, alongside theatrical projects, to open exhibitions of young artists and renowned masters in the "Mist" (Bridge) art gallery for native Odesa (managed by Tamara Mykhailychenko), as well as to launch the highly popular TV program and festival "Zirochka" (Little Star), under the artistic direction of Oleksandr Stepanov.

A new round in the creative history of this educational institution came in 2003, bringing the building on Sabaneiev Bridge a new status and a new name: "Children's Theatrical School of Odesa" (CTS).

Since 2005, with the arrival of the new director Olena Borysivna Tkach, CTS has actively developed new projects — collaborating with the National Union of Theater Artists, the V. Vasylko Ukrainian Theater, the Odesa Puppet Theater, the O.V. Bleshunov Municipal Museum of Personal Collections, the Odesa branch of the "Intellectual Forum of Ukraine," and other creative organizations. CTS and the "Uncle Fedir" Scientific and Creative Organization founded the International Art Festivals "Odesa Tram" and "Carpathian Spring," providing methodological, creative, and practical assistance to a wide variety of art projects.

In 2011, a very important event for all of us took place: the Children's Theatrical School (CTS) moved to a new address at 24 Sofiivska Street. Thanks to the efforts of caring people—the then Vice Mayor of Odesa, Olena Pavlova; the Deputy Head of the Department of Culture and Arts, Liudmyla Kryzhalko; and Odesa patron and businessman Dmytro Shpynarov—the school solved its most pressing issue: the "housing" problem. We are confident that in this new building, the CTS will reach new creative heights!
Our theatrical hall, which was created practically from scratch, deserves special mention. To ensure the students had a real stage, two separate classrooms were combined into one large space. This complex reconstruction was made possible only through the generous financial support of many friends of the school. Today, this dream space continues to evolve and is currently being additionally equipped with professional lighting fixtures.
Here is how the publications of that time covered this event:

In 2011, the Children's Theatrical School relocated to the premises on Sofiivska Street, and in a rather short period, it managed to almost completely settle in and establish the educational process. By the beginning of the school year, the institution's administration managed to utilize and carry out major renovation works in the building's previously unused premises. Now, additional classrooms and a costume room are located here.

In 2020, on the eve of its 25th anniversary, "Teatralo4ka" received a new status and name — Communal Institution of Primary Specialized Education "Art Theatrical School of Odesa". This was one of the conditions of the reform of art schools, according to changes in the Law on Education. To be honest, we were not very happy about this, because it seemed to us that cultural officials had "overdone" it and come up with a not entirely correct name. What else can a theatrical school be but an art school? It would be more correct to call it: "School of Theatrical Art."

And in 2025, the city council approved our current name by its decision — Odesa Theatrical School. But our favorite chant: "A! A! DTShA!" — remains with us forever!

Since 2009, with the support of the State Methodological Center under the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, our school has been holding All-Ukrainian theatrical seminars-workshops for teachers of theatrical schools, theatrical departments of specialized creative educational institutions, and heads and methodologists of cultural institutions. The programs of these seminars are diverse and highly necessary, as all participants receive an official certificate of professional development upon completion.

Until 2016, they were held at the end of March in a biennial format (once every 2 years) and were dedicated to International Theater Day, thus receiving the symbolic name — "Spring. Odesa. Theater."

Since 2018, "Teatralo4ka" holds these seminars at the end of the theatrical season and the beginning of the admission campaign — in June. And it's clear why! Many of our graduates enter the country's creative higher educational institutions both after the 9th and 11th grades. As a response to such a creative demand, a unique theatrical project emerged — the open festival for applicants of creative educational institutions "Odesa.Theater.PRO," supported by the National Union of Theater Artists of Ukraine.

The main idea of this festival is for applicants who dream of becoming actors, directors, media professionals, and specialists in other creative professions to meet with the masters who are recruiting first-year students at various creative universities in Ukraine. Over the first three years of the festival, the school hosted representatives from 18 Ukrainian cities and towns. Out of 72 participants in these festivals, 44 became students of creative educational institutions in different cities and countries. The experts of "Theater.PRO" were:

  • Bohdan Strutynskyi (Kyiv) — Head of the National Union of Theater Artists of Ukraine, Artistic Director of the Kyiv Operetta Theater, teacher at the I.K. Karpenko-Karyi Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television
  • Stas Zhyrkov (Kyiv) — Director, Artistic Director of the Kyiv Left Bank Theatre, teacher at the Kyiv Municipal Academy of Variety and Circus Arts
  • Stanislav Moiseiev (Kyiv) — Director, teacher at the I.K. Karpenko-Karyi Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television
  • Nina Husakova (Kyiv) — Director, Associate Professor at the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts
  • Oksana Stetsenko (Kharkiv) — Actress and director of the T.H. Shevchenko Kharkiv Theater, teacher at the I.P. Kotlyarevsky Kharkiv National University of Arts
  • Anatolii Lobanov (Kharkiv) — Actor of the O.S. Pushkin Kharkiv Theater, professor at the I.P. Kotlyarevsky Kharkiv National University of Arts
  • Dmytro Zakhozhenko (Lviv) — Chief Director of the Lesia Ukrainka Lviv Theater, teacher at Lviv National University
  • Olena Basha (Lviv) — Actress of the Lviv Theater for Children and Youth, Associate Professor at Lviv National University
  • Liena Liahushonkova (Kyiv), Nataliya Blok (Kherson) — Contemporary Ukrainian playwrights

...and many other highly professional experts in the field of theatrical pedagogy.

It is worth noting that all these years the school is proud of its wonderful teachers who have been working since the day of its foundation — professionals with a capital letter: Svitlana Ryskina, Svitlana Kyselova, Olena Prorok.

For many years, the reliable pillar and soul of the school have been the teachers who work fruitfully and pass on their invaluable experience: Iryna Ovcharenko, Tetiana Isachkina, Iryna Ulianenko, Vira Koval, Fedir Tkach, Natalia Stepanenko, Yevheniia Bohdanova.

Later, the teaching staff was replenished with new bright names. Our team was joined by: Elmir Hanbarov, Tereza Zaurbekova, Oleksandr Kozoviakin, Liliia Velychko, Vira Kurova, Oksana Panchenko, Svitlana Vitiuk, Hanna Nikolaieva, Tetiana Stohul, Olha Maiorova.

Over time, another galaxy of talented artists joined us: Liudmyla Baranova, Kateryna Sukhoboievska, Olha Buinytska, Olena Konnikova, Liubov Savina.

Our pedagogical family continues to grow tirelessly, attracting talented specialists. We have been joined by: Natalia Bakina, Yevheniia Bondar, Andrii Klymenko, Olena Kondratska, Dariya Nadozha, Iryna Tilniak.

A special pride for us are the young teachers Anastasiia Nikolaieva, Yaroslava Turbinska, Anna Matkovska, Yana Kovalchuk, Pavlo Prymak, Oleksandra Sklifosovska, Olha Chervoniak, Alisa Kocheva and, of course, our graduates who, after graduating from specialized higher educational institutions, returned to their native school already as teachers: Pavlo Koshka, Svitlana Nadopta, Hanna Komadovska, Yevheniia Osadcha (Burian), Hanna Serebriannikova.

Unfortunately, recent years have been overshadowed by the heavy losses of our wonderful colleagues and great teachers — Samuil Imas, Mykola Baldin, Iryna Kaplia. We always remember and keep in our hearts the memories of these beautiful people who raised hundreds of talented students.

The school is proud of its brilliant students who annually conquer the juries of festivals and competitions of all levels.

Our children successfully prove themselves on the professional theatrical stage, participating in the plays "Cherry Wind," "Burnt by the Sun," "City of My Childhood," "Family Stories" (Ukrainian Theater), "Make it to Limpopo," and "Odesa-Mama" (Musical Comedy Theater). You will also find the names of young actors — school students — in the credits of the films "Hell's Banner, or Cossack Christmas," "Hero's Star," "Kruty 1918," "By the River," "Stronger Than Fire," "Island of Surprises," "Season of Discoveries," and Ukrainian TV series "To Catch the Kaidash," "Liquidation," "Servant of the People," "Papik," "Central Hospital," and others.

All fans of the TV program "The Smartest" remember our Maksym Nakonechnyi as the most noble winner of this game, and 15 years later, in 2022, the film "Butterfly Vision" by this young Ukrainian film director represented Ukraine at the Cannes Film Festival.

In 2015, our graduate Arina Postolova starred in Eva Neymann's film "Song of Songs" and became the owner of two "Golden Dukes" at the VI Odesa International Film Festival. And the list of graduates who have entered creative universities or have already realized themselves in the profession as actors, directors of feature and documentary films, TV producers and presenters, artists, designers, and musicians continues to expand every year, and their number has already reached more than a hundred!

Performances and concerts of the school's students have become a long-awaited holiday at the "House with an Angel," Children's Shelter No. 1, Children's Shelter "Way Home," the sanatorium for war veterans in Fontan, kindergartens, libraries, in the military unit of sailors, for soldiers undergoing rehabilitation in the Odesa hospital, and simply in Odesa schools. And who do you think accompanied the Mayor of Odesa in the costumes of the founding fathers of the city at the City Day celebration? Who cheerfully marched to Dumskaya Square to the main Christmas tree of Odesa as part of the New Year's carnival? Who met Sir Oleg Filimonov on the deck of the white liner of the Odesa Humorina? Our children, of course!

Our children, who so imperceptibly turn into graduates, into successful people, into colleagues from the creative guild, who do not forget their alma mater — the Odesa Theatrical School.

A wonderful tradition of our school has become the "Educational Theater," which unites graduates of different years and serves as a creative platform for students of the basic acting course and the "Acting School" for adults.

In April 2009, the play "Myna Mazailo" participated in the International Theatrical Festival "Southern Mask" (Mykolaiv) and won a diploma in the nomination "Creative Discovery of the Festival."

And in September 2009, the play "Oblom-off" won first place at the International Theatrical Festival "Live!" in Crimea.

The plays "The Maids" and "Sleepy" received the first prizes of the Odesa festivals "Golden Mask of Shakespeare" and "No Tickets," respectively.

A traditional event of the "Graduates' Theater" is the preparation of the "Initiation into Art" holiday, which takes place every year in October for new students of the school. Since 2005, the scriptwriter and director of this event has been the director and teacher Fedir Tkach. It is gratifying that in recent years, young directors and teachers Svitlana Nadopta, Hanna Komadovska, and Pavlo Koshka have actively joined in writing the script.

Actively developing and accepting the challenges of recent years, since 2012 the school has created a completely new structure for the theatrical department, developed through years of collective creative experience. The success of this methodology is confirmed by our graduates, who after studying at the school, as we say, "go into the profession" and glorify their school, their "Teatralo4ka," their creative alma mater.

We can proudly state that the Odesa Theatrical School has become a truly professional educational institution and has firmly occupied the niche of a basic school of primary theatrical education in Ukraine!