16.12.2025

Vertep, as one of the oldest and most expressive forms of Ukrainian Christmas theatre, combining dramatic action, music, puppet performance, and sacred imagery, and embodying Christmas joy, moral reflection, and the spiritual memory of the nation, naturally becomes the foundation for presenting artefacts associated with this tradition. In this way, it defines the conceptual basis of the Visual Theatre exhibition “VERTEP.”
“VERTEP” immerses the viewer in a world of ancient images and rituals, where artistic forms from different eras resonate with one another. The exhibition space brings together painting, sculpture, theatrical sets, costumes, authorial installations, and the traditional folk vertep. This diversity of expressive means creates a unified narrative of folk drama and its spiritual content, highlighting its distinctive symbolic language.
Throughout the exhibition, visitors will have the opportunity to experience live performances: vertep plays, theatrical performances, and puppet productions that bring the presented artefacts to life and reveal their meanings through action.

“VERTEP” seeks to recreate the atmosphere of a traditional festive theatre, where a contemporary perspective naturally intertwines with centuries-old cultural heritage. It is a space for encountering art that preserves memory while simultaneously speaking to the present.
National Academy of Arts of Ukraine
Kyiv, 20 Bulvarno-Kudriavska Street

Free admission