KIEV'S THEATRES
SIR,—Mr. Cyril Ray, 'musing over the fact that in Kiev, which is the same size as Manchester, there are seven theatres and an opera house' (Spectator, April 3), must have realised, I hope, that of the seven only two are dramatic theatres (a Russian and a Ukrainian), while the rest consists of a 'Transport Workers',' Children's, Musical' Comedy, a Puppets Theatre, and a wandering company touring the Kiev oblast and only exceptionally appearing in the city. So he should not have been surprised to hear during his stay in Kiev of many (and so far unsuccessful) demands which have been raised for years there asking the Government to allow the opening of a second Ukrainian Dramatic Theatre in Kiev.
Also, comparing Kiev and Manchester, he may have overlooked the fact that the former is a capital of a 'sovereign socialist republic,' as it is officially desig- nated, with a population of over forty million, which has managed to have a full-time Foreign Minister (with no ambassadors, however), but is not allowed to have a periodical devoted to the theatre or film.— Yours faithfully,
A KIEV TRAVELLER
Previous page
