In spite of its rather academic name the Academic Theatre of Drama and Comedy, located on the left bank of the Dnepr River, is a very innovative and young establishment. The theatre was founded in 1979 on the initiative of Eduard Mitnizky, who headed the company and become the artistic director of the troupe. The first play of the new theatre that opened a galaxy of bright performances was Acme by Ukrainian playwright Rodion Fedenev.

The theater is remarkable for its experimental performances. It was one of the first theatres in Kiev, which established a small stage called The Theatre in the Foyer, where for the first time in the soviet theatre the play in Ukrainian (Lies by Vinnichenko) was staged.

The theatre produces important new and classical plays of Russian and Ukrainian dramatic art. Its extensive repertoire comprises plays by such playwrights as F. Dostoyevsky, M. Bulgakov and plays of outstanding modern playwrights. The troupe of the theatre strives to ruin the stereotype ideas and to show the audience that the problems discussed in traditional Ukrainian dramas are very up-to-date. The plays are sometimes provocative, always intelligent and often full of laughter.

The troupe tries to embody in its work such principles as spiritual and emotional contact between the audience and the actors, the openness and sincerity of expression, high artistic standards. The professionalism of actors, fresh urgent performances, interesting interpretation of classical plays and original view of each role have formed the recognizable style of the troupe and gained the popularity of the Academic Theatre of Drama and Comedy with the citizens and guests of Kiev, who do not miss an opportunity to see one of the best theatres of the Ukrainian capital.

Some words should be said about the founder of the theatre, Eduard Mitnizky. He has not only created this popular theatre but also educated many modern directors, who are proud to call themselves the students of Eduard Mitnizky. Many critics assert that there is even a new theatrical phenomenon, the so called Mitnitsky School of Theatrical Direction.

From the very beginning many outstanding actors and writers have loved working at the Academic Theatre of Drama and Comedy, often starting their celebrated careers in its premises. Nowadays such famous Kiev actors as Vladimir Goryansky, Vitaly Linetzky, Lesya Samaeva, Lev Somov, Darya Loboda, Alexander Getmansky, Neonila Beletzkaya play in the theatre. Actors and directors of the Academic Theatre of Drama and Comedy have won many prestigious theatrical awards.

The theatre has developed a national and international reputation for the presentation of Ukrainian dramatic art. Its performances were highly appreciated at the different international theatrical festivals - Festival of Russian Theatres of CIS and Baltic States, Festival of Russian Theatres, Days of Ukrainian Culture in France, Slavic Theatrical Meetings and others.

National Academic Theatre of Russian Drama named after Lesya Ukrainka is located in Kiev, in the building of the former theater Bergognie in the very heart of Kiev - in the center of the historic part of the city, on the corner of two old streets (Bogdan Khmelnitsky and Pushkin), in a short walk from Khreshchatyk, near the Golden Gates.

The history of the theater begins in 1891, when the creative team for the first time made the performance in the building of the current National Academic Drama Theatre named after Ivan Franko. Having changed a number of names during the period of its existence, the theater was given its present name in 1941.

The work of Academic Theatre was twice interrupted: since 1919 to 1920 and since 1941 to 1942. With the Great Patriotic War the actors composition broke over and worked in the evacuation, and a year later the chief director K. Khokhlov again gathered the troupe in Karaganda, which returned to Kiev after the war.

National Theatre of Russian Drama was awarded with the Order of Labor Red Banner and received the title of the academic theater.

Theatre has always been famous for its outstanding actor and director composition, which attracted visitors to the performances not only from all over Ukraine, but also from neighboring countries. Among the eminent personalities of the theater were the actors Mikhail Romanov, Maria Strelkova, Ada Rogovtseva, directors Konstantin Khokhlov, Nikolai Sokolov, Georgi Tovstonogov, artists Anatoly Petritsky, Leon Alshits, composers Boris Lyatoshynsky and Yuri Shaporin etc.

The most famous performances of Academic Theatre are: "Living Corpse" by Leo Tolstoy with Mikhail Romanov, "Toybele and Her Demon" by I. Bashevis-Singer with Tatiana Nazarova, "Warsaw Melody" by L. Zorina with Ada Rogovtseva etc.

In March, 1919 Solovtsov’s Theatre was nationalized and renamed into Second Theatre of Ukrainian Soviet republic named after V.I.Lenin. In the end of July, 1919 Denikin's forced entered Kiev and Theatre creased work till the beginning of 1920. Year 1926 was marked by another change in theater’s fate: Kiev district executive committee confirmed the decision to organize Russian State drama, and already in October, 1926 the theatre began its first season.

Lesya Ukrainka name was given to Theatre of Russian Drama in 1941. After Great Patriotic War beginning the theater company disintegrated, a lot of actors continued artistic work in evacuation. In 1942 chief director of Russian Drama Theatre of Lesya Ukrainka Konstantin Hohlov assembled a troupe in Karaganda, and in May, 1944 actors and their director returned to Kiev.

In 1946 National Theatre of Russian Drama named after Lesya Ukrainka was decorated with Order of Labour Red Banner, and in 1966 the theatre was given the rank of academic. People’s Artist of Ukrain Michael Reznikovich became a leader of the theater in 1994.

Great number of talented and known people worked at Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Theatre of Russian Drama in Kiev. Far outside Ukraine bounds these actors’ names are known: Oleg Borisov, Pavel Luspekaev, Cyril Lavrov, Ada Rogovtseva, Anatoly Hostikoev, director George Tovstonogov. Performances of Lesya Ukrainka Theatre repertoir: “Live corpse” L.Tolstoy, " Warsaw melody" L.Zorin, “Lady Dulsky’s moral” G.Zapolskaya, "Trees die standing" A.Kasony became the real legend among connoisseurs of theatrical art, and O.Wilde comedy "The importance of Being Earnest" is played at the theatre stage already for more than 15 seasons.