New Ukrainian Company, STRUM UA Theatre, Launches in Calgary

Calgary welcomes a unique addition to its vibrant cultural scene with the launch of STRUM UA Theatre, a new company dedicated to bringing Ukrainian theatrical traditions to the city. The launch event is set to take place Thursday night at The Collector’s Gallery of Art in Inglewood, featuring performances of poems and music in Ukrainian with English subtitles.

STRUM UA Theatre, founded by Snizhauna Gukasian-Korobeinkova and Anna Lupeko, both Ukrainian artists who relocated to Calgary 14 months ago, aims to merge Ukrainian artistic heritage with the local cultural landscape. The company’s name, STRUM, carries deep significance. In Ukrainian, it means electric flow or a stream of water or air, essential for life. In English, it signifies the sound of a guitar, blending the power of words, movement, dance, music, and song.

Both founders bring extensive theatrical experience from Ukraine and Calgary. Lupeko has performed in Front Row Centre Theatre’s production of A Chorus Line, while Gukasian-Korobeinkova has acted in Workshop Theatre’s Dracula and a Scorpio/Morpheus co-production of Sylvia. The duo draws inspiration from Ukraine’s rich theatrical tradition, which often involves long-running repertoire theatre with stable troupes, contrasting with Calgary’s dynamic casting culture.

At the launch event, STRUM UA Theatre will announce its upcoming season, which includes a show inspired by the writings of Sofia Yablonska and the works of Ukrainian playwright Mykola Kulish. Kulish, a significant figure in Ukrainian literature and theatre, was profoundly influenced by Les Kurbas, Ukraine’s leading theatre director. Kulish’s legacy, despite being targeted during Stalin’s Great Terror, remains a pivotal inspiration for the company.

The Ukrainian community in Calgary is rapidly expanding, bringing a wave of new artists to Alberta. Lupeko highlighted the recent Ukrainian Festival in South Calgary, which featured over 1,000 performers. With approximately 2,000 Ukrainian artists now residing in Calgary, STRUM UA Theatre marks a significant step in establishing a new cultural movement in the city, filling a gap by creating the first Ukrainian theatre company in Calgary.

STRUM UA Theatre’s launch symbolizes a fusion of Ukrainian cultural heritage with Calgary’s dynamic arts scene, promising to enrich the city’s cultural tapestry. The new theatre company aims to offer a blend of traditional and contemporary Ukrainian performances, fostering a deeper cultural understanding and appreciation within the local community.