«Tkach Translator»
Fedir Tkach is a director, screenwriter, theatre pedagogue, and member of the National Union of Theatre Artists of Ukraine. Born in Odesa into a family of philologists, he received theatre directing education in both Odesa and Kyiv. In the late 1990s and early 2000s, he was a well-known showman, KVN performer, and director of Odesa Humoryna festivals, children's festivals, and television programs.
He has dedicated his life to pedagogical work and holds the title "Excellence in Education of Ukraine." For over 20 years, he has been teaching acting at the Odesa Theatre School, nurturing talented masters across various media professions and promoting patriotic initiatives with children and youth. Invariably with Ukraine in his heart! He was the host of the Odesa Orange Maidan, co-author of the lyrics and director of the "Odesa Euromaidan Anthem", and actively volunteers in support of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
In 2025, he launched the new project «Tkach-Perekladach» (Tkach-Translator) dedicated to the adaptation, stage dramatization, and Ukrainian translation of literary masterpieces, as well as the popularization of the Ukrainian Word.
For children's theatre troupes, drama clubs, and studios, the project offers ready-made, adapted stage adaptations of famous fairy tales in Ukrainian:
1. The Ballad of the King's Breakfast
(based on A. A. Milne, preview excerpt in Ukrainian)
Король,
Його Величність,
Просив ЇЇ Величність,
Щоби ЇЇ Величність,
Дала наказ молочниці –
Щоб на сніданок масла
Привезли королю.
Відповіла молочниця:
«Авжеж! Аякже! Звісно!» –
Піду,
Скажу
Корові,
Допоки я не сплю!
…Ніхто, ніхто, — сказав він
Вилазячи із ліжка,
Ніхто, ніхто, — сказав він
Стрибаючи на ніжці,
Ніхто, ніхто, — сказав він
І вимив руки з милом
Ніхто, ніхто, — сказав він
Бешкетно та зраділо:
«Не скаже, ніби я тиран,
Що гнобить свій народ,
Бо я до чаю так люблю
Смачнючий бутерброд!»
2. «The Wonderful Wizard of Oz»
(based on L. Frank Baum, preview excerpts in Ukrainian)
DOROTHY: Uncle was also all grey — it seemed as though from head to toe, from grey locks and long grey beard down to worn-out boots, he was covered in grey dust. Always sullen, always reserved…
Aunt EM: He even spoke reluctantly; mostly he remained silent.
Chorus 1: And do you know who kept Dorothy from being bored, who entertained her all the time?
Chorus 2: Toto! That's who was never grey!
(transformation)
TOTO: Toto, a little black dog with long silky fur and black eyes that twinkled merrily on either side of his funny, shiny button nose, played all day long,
DOROTHY: And Dorothy played with him and loved him dearly.
(playing)
Song of the Munchkins
Доля послала знак
Нам-Жвакунам, жвак-жвак
Щось з неба впало так –
Й зла Чарівниця – бряк!
Munchkin 1: Welcome to the Land of the Munchkins, noble sorceress, munch-munch!
Munchkin 2: We thank you so much for destroying the Wicked Witch Gingema, munch-munch!
Munchkin 3: Yes, yes, destroyed the Wicked Witch Gingema and freed the Munchkins from bondage, munch-munch!
Dorothy: You are very kind, but there must be some mistake. I didn't destroy anyone.
Vilina: You might not have, but your house did. And that is pretty much the same thing.
Dorothy: Oh! That means the house crushed her when it landed. What should we do now?
Vilina: Nothing! You defeated the Wicked Witch Gingema! For many years she held the Munchkin country in subjugation, forcing them to work day and night. But now they are free, and everyone is deeply grateful for your kindness.
(The Munchkins gratefully chattered and shook their bells-ringed hats)
3. «The Wonderful Adventures of Nils»
(based on Selma Lagerlöf, preview excerpts in Ukrainian)
Chorus of Swedish children
В маленькому містечку Вестменхег
На самому півдні Швеції
В маленькому містечку Вестменхег
Жив хлопчик на ім'я Нільс.
Нільс! Нільс Гольґерсон
Був неслухняний хуліган
Нільс! Нільс Гольґерсон
Хлопчисько – ураган
Він на уроках ґав ловив
І лише двійки він хапав,
Курей ганяв, гусей дражнив
В корову камінці кидав!
Нільс! Нільс Гольґерсон
Пташині гнізда руйнував
Нільс! Нільс Гольґерсон
Він кицьку за хвоста тягав!
Нільс! Нільс Гольґерсон
Із пустощів він чемпіон
Нільс! Нільс Гольґерсон
Nils: Just let me finish my sleep!!!
Nils's Metamorphosis
Sparrow: Look at Nils! Look at Nils!
Hen 1: Cluck-cluck… Throw him in the river!
Hen 2: Serves him right! Serves him right!
Goose 1: Hand-some! Oh, so hand-some!
Goose 2: What, scared now? Scared?
(They pecked, pinched, beat him with their beaks, pulled his arms and legs. They scatter when the cat appears)
Nils: Dear kitty, you know every corner, every hole, every burrow in our yard. Please tell me where I can find the gnome? He couldn't have gone far.
Cat: (after a cat pause) Purr, purr! Of course I know where the gnome is… But whether I will tell you or not remains to be seen…
Nils: Little kitty, purr-baby, you must help me! Don't you see that the gnome bewitched me?
Cat: (eyes sparkling) And why on earth should I help you? Perhaps for putting a wasp in my ear? Or for setting my fur on fire? Or for pulling my tail every single day? Huh?
Nils: (indignantly) I could pull your tail right now!
(The cat tackles Nils)
Nils: Help, help!
Cat: (releases him) Alright, that's enough for the first time. If your mother weren't such a kind mistress who fed me milk morning and evening, you'd be in serious trouble. For her sake, I'll spare your life.
4. «The Birthday of the Infanta»
(based on Oscar Wilde, preview excerpts in Ukrainian)
Harlequin: Señores and señoritas! We begin the ball celebrating the Birthday of the Princess of Spain, heiress of the Crown of Aragon, the sixth generation of Habsburgs on the Spanish throne, the Infanta Sofia Victoria of the Algarve!
(procession to a sarabande)
Born Spanish hidalgo and grandee, the young Count of Tierra-Nuova!
Senior Camériste, Duchess of Albuquerque!
His Majesty the King of Spain, Portugal, and the Algarve!
Princess Infanta Sofia Victoria of the Algarve!
King: Ahem… Dearest daughter!... Our court painter, Señor Velázquez, has created this portrait especially for your birthday!
(the portrait is presented)
Count: Your portrait is wonderful, but you are even more exquisite! You resemble a white rose!
(The Infanta blushes)
Duchess: What beauty!!!
Harlequin: Until now you were like a white rose, and now you are like a red rose.
King: Double the salary!
Duchess: What an honour!!!
Harlequin: I entertain everyone not for money, but from the bottom of my heart!
Duchess: What a disgrace!!!
Count: Your Highness! Allow me to present you with a golden rose.
(a rose in a vase)
Duchess: What luxury!!!
Harlequin: It is clearer than clear that they love each other… Clear as the crystal of this vase.
King: Double the doubled salary!
Duchess: What an honour!!!
King: Ahem… Dearest daughter! In honour of your Birthday, we will hold a grand fireworks display tonight.
Infanta: Fireworks??? What are they like?
Duchess: Fireworks are like…
Count: Fireworks are like…
Harlequin: Fireworks are like the Northern Lights, only the Lights are far more natural.
King: Strip him of his salary!
Duchess: What a disgrace!!!
King: Personally, I prefer fireworks not only to the Northern Lights, but even to stars! Because here you always know when they will ignite! Besides, they are just as magical as my flute playing.
(The King plays the flute)
Musical Number «Actors' Chorus…»
Бризне серце так жорстоко, кров’ю чи томатним соком
Це не в репліці слова
Це як вперше чи в останнє — справжній біль, справжнє кохання
Наше серце відчува.
У акторів справжні сльози,
У статистів щирі пози
Б’є відверто барабан
Після оплесків-овацій
Буде зміна декорацій —
Буде знову балаган!
Світ – це театр, і це – вічність! Сцена – це ЇЇ Величність!
Як нас змінює вона?
Лицедію вір, будь ласка, на поклоні скину маску,
А під нею — ще одна, а під тою — ще одна…
Але крізь завісу диму
Крізь роки і безліч гриму,
Інколи не до кінця —
Чи абсурдний, чи логічний
Проступає споконвічний
Задум Світлого Творця…
Repertoire List of Adaptations for Children's Theatre
- «The Nightingale» based on Hans Christian Andersen
- «Alice in Wonderland» based on Lewis Carroll
- «Going to the Stars» based on Gianni Rodari
- «Cipollino» based on Gianni Rodari
- «Tales of Mother Meadows» based on Joel Chandler Harris
- «Castle Eulenstein» based on Otfried Preussler
Furthermore, the project includes numerous adapted texts for poetic drama, adolescent theatre, and classical playwriting.
Exclusive materials also include Ukrainian translations of Hanna Yablonska's play "The Concierge" and Boris Barsky's comedy "Mozart and Salieri".