Theatrical Festival «HOMO LUDENS»

Mykolaiv Region festival movement is of rich history. Though the festival format
events of theatrical business are not of a great number, moreover - some of them
ceased to exist; Mykolaiv theatrical performances have always been of high
managerial and representation level, ensuring their great popularity in Ukraine as
well as outside the territory of our country. These festivals are as follows: All-
Ukrainian Festival of the Dramatic Art «From Hypanis up to Borysthenes» (has
been held since 1996 in City of Ochakiv, Ochakiv District of Mykolaiv Region),
Regional Contest of Amateur Theatres «Mykolaiv Melpomene» (has been held
since 2016 in City of Mykolaiv and City of Voznesensk), Festival-Forum
«International Summer Drama School «Theatron» (has been held since 2016 in
City of Mykolaiv and City of Ochakiv), International Festival of Youth and
Children`S Theatres «Southern Masks» (used to be held in-between 2004-2015 in
City of Mykolaiv), Theatrical Festival «HOMO LUDENS» of International Black
Sea Club (used to be held in-between 2006-2016 in City of Mykolaiv).
Festival traditions of Mykolaiv Region are featured by variety of directions within
the dramatic art`s framework. Though, it is one particular festival that for 10 years
has in the professional theatrical circles been supporting the status of the event
ensuring that once in a year Mykolaiv becomes the theatrical capital of South of
Ukraine. It is Theatrical Festival «HOMO LUDENS» («A Playing Man») of
International Black Sea Club – the forum of history of 10 years known in Ukraine
and in the world. The Festival was for the first time organized and held in City of
Mykolaiv at the premises of the Art Russian Drama Theatre in 2006. «HOMO
LUDENS» - was and still is the only festival of the region that held itself out
entirely as the forum of professional theatre ensembles.
Name of the festival - «HOMO LUDENS» - as well as its ideological component
derives from the eponymously-named book of Johan Huizinga`s – Dutch thinker of
ХХ century. The book`s key theme is the assertion that playing is one of the basic
essential characteristics of a human nature.
Consolidating mission of the festival is of significant importance which unites
people of art from many countries on the grounds of eternal universal human
values – peace, kindness and justice, friendship and mutual understanding between
the nations. For the period of 10 years the festival has successfully demonstrated
its topicality, effectiveness and truthfulness and deserved high commendation of
the Management of International Black Sea Club during the session of this
reputable international organization.
Festival «HOMO LUDENS» was of non-political character by being entirely
culturological forum.
The festival is held at the expense of municipal (the first years when the festival
was set up) and the regional budget, Mykolaiv Academic Art Drama Theatre,
charity funds, individual patron of arts as well as partners which on a non-

repayable basis render their services on provision of the ensembles`
accommodation, catering, placement of advertisements, etc.
Since 2007 festival «HOMO LUDENS» has become the competitive one.
The jury`s composition was of leading specialists in the theatrical business of
Ukraine and foreign countries – Bulgaria, Turkey, Russia, Georgia, Moldova.
Since 2008 the jury`s team was headed by Vasyl Nevolov, honoured art worker of
Ukraine, laureate of state prize of Ukraine named after I.P. Kotlyarevskyi, Ph.D. in
History of Arts, professor (City of Kyiv). Amongst the jury`s permanent members
are such famous specialists in theatrical circles as Oleksandr Mardan`, playwriter
(City of Odesa), Liudmyla Tomenchiuk, art historian and theatre critic (City of
Dnipro).
Since 2012 the so called alternative jury has been engaged to appraise the
creative works of the ensembles`-participants; the alternative jury is composed by
leading journalists of Mykolaiv Region, who pursuing their professional activity
cover the region`s cultural events. The alternative journalistic jury is the innovation
of Mykolaiv`s people, which promptly spread all over Ukraine: it was the year to
follow that such jury commenced its activity at the International Theatre Festival
of Women Creative Activity named after M. Zankovetska. Though, the ensemble
which has promptly taken over the new tradition of «HOMO LUDENS» has not
understood the core of it: the journalists should have not only decided the
nominations` winners and cover the events in mass-media - they first of all were to
have learnt a performance` proper professional analysis from specialists in drama
study and theatre critics, participate in workshops on theatrical journalism, attend
rehearsals of the ensembles`-participants to understand complex processes of the
theatrical business arrangement. It is due to «HOMO LUDENS» that in Mykolaiv
we now have the series of theatrical journalists who now can write not only theatre
reports but proper standard theatre reviews.
At different times the festival`s guests were Ukraine`s professional theatre
ensembles (Kyiv, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhia, Odesa, Kharkiv, Bila Tserkva, Sevastopol,
Mykolaiv, Kherson, Makiivka, Nszhyn, Kolomyia, Mukacheve, Lugansk, Poltava,
Kryvyi Rig, Kropyvnytskyi, Chernygiv, Chernivtsi, Cherkassy, Evpatoriia), Russia
(Moscow, Perm, Rostov-on-Don, Taganrog, Volgograd, Volzkyi, Tula, Mytyschy,
Nyzhniy Novgorod), Belarus (Minsk, Molodechno), Tatarstan (Naberezhni
Chelny), Georgia (Tbilisi), Moldova (Kishinev), Turkey (Antalya, Trabzon),
Trans-Dniester (Tiraspol), Abkhazia (Sukhumi), Latvia (Daugavpils). The
performances have been shown not only at different performance venues – apart
from the main stage of Mykolaiv Academic Art Drama Theatre they have also
performed on small stage at the theatre`s rehearsal hall, stage of Mykolaiv
Regional Puppet Theatre (for some years puppet players have also participated in
the event), stages of assembly halls of Mykolaiv higher education institutions. For
the period of 10 years more than 70 000 spectators have attended performances of
festival «HOMO LUDENS».

Theatrical Festival «HOMO LUDENS» («A Playing Man») of International Black
Sea Club for the period of 10 years has become quite popular in Ukraine as well as
outside our country`s territory. It has become a good tradition to engage young
students and amateurs in Mykolaiv`s performances. Though, unlike the other
festivals this category has been nominated as the Guest status. Setting-up of the
alternative journalistic jury and engagement of puppet-players in the festival were
the features that differed «HOMO LUDENS» from other festivals of Mykolaiv
Region (even in Ukraine). Dedication of the festival to a particular prominent
figure is also not a tradition of Mykolaiv Region festival movement but the modern
aspect which opens up the ways for the new unmatched creatively -
demonstrational direction which may be varied from time to time pursuant to the
wish of the organizing committee. Concept of festival «HOMO LUDENS» was
based upon its own philosophy and is of recognized culturological value. This
aspect features Mykolaiv «HOMO LUDENS» from millions of festivals around
the globe.
Theatrical Festival «HOMO LUDENS» («A Playing Man») of International Black
Sea Club is the unique event of high managerial and representation level which has
been actively developing from one year to the next.
The festival organizing committee has significantly contributed in festival
movement modernization of Mykolaiv Region and Ukraine upon the whole by
setting-up the innovative event which promoted the creative approach to every new
festival and demonstrated that it is of high value to Ukrainian people appealing to
peace and friendship, mutual respect and understanding amongst Ukrainians as
well as other nationalities` representatives, promoting love to history of Ukraine,
its literary and artistic achievements.
In 2019 Artem Svystun, Director-Artistic Managing Director of Mykolaiv
Academic Art Drama Theatre has scheduled the festival renaissance called
«HOMO LUDENS. Reset» dedicated to 85-th anniversary of establishment of the
Theatre. The festival will be of non-competitive nature. Leading Ukrainian theatre
ensembles as well as guests from abroad will participate in the festival.