Once fall comes into the city, beachgoers and sun lovers will have already returned from the sea shore and are be starving for fresh feelings. The new theater season will successfully satisfy their intellectual wishes.

The large Theaters of Kyiv like Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater, Lesya Ukrainka Russian Drama Theater and Drama Theater at the Left Bank as always will be the most visited. However, Kyiv can offer a much wider row of theaters. In truth, some smaller theaters have ideal actors, a wider repertoire and a full house. More than that, these small stages are becoming a promising alternative to old, traditional theaters. I've asked my friends Aliona and Danilo, real theater professionals, to guide me around Kyiv's small original theaters.

Newly opened by Theater of Kyiv was founded by students of Nikolai Rushkovskiy, an actor of Lesi Ukrainki Russian Drama Theater and renowned teacher at the KarpenkoKariy Theater Institute, directly after finishing their studying process. The former students not only play, but create plays by themselves.

The theater is very small but the size causes a cozy atmosphere. While waiting for the third bell (calling you to the performance), you can gape at old music instruments exhibited in the hall or have a cup of tea sitting among antique furniture. To drink tasty drinks and chocolates you should help yourself at the table and deposit money into a special box nearby -Kryzhovnik relies on its audience. Visiting Kryzhovnik for the first time, check out the plays "The Law of Tango", "Two Masters' Servant" or "Five Stories by Pelevin" based on funny stories by modern Russian author Viktor Pelevin. Although in Kryzhovnik they try to find room for everybody, it's better to buy tickets (Hr 25-30) in advance.

Drama Theater on Podil is located at the Hostiny Dvir, on the site of the former market. In the middle of the performance during my first visit to the theatre, I was admired by a strange rumbling under my legs.

As Aliona whispered into my ear, it was the sound of coming tram. Surprisingly, it didn't ruin the positive atmosphere in the hall - so much I was plunged into the action onstage. Most actors of the theatre are likewise former students of Nikolay Rushkovskiy. Among the leading actors is the couple Sofia Pisman and Sergiy Siplivy, who teach stage speech at KarpenkoKary institute.

The repertoire's main plus is that it combines Russian and Ukrainian performances. By the way, among the largest achievements of the theater is the Zolota Pektoral 2004 Award granted for the best play - their version of Chehov's "Dyadya Vanya" ("Uncle Vanya"). While the seats and even steps usually sell out during performances (choose "V Stepah Ukrainy" ("In Ukrainian Steppes") or "Faraony" ("Pharaohs"), you might manage to get tickets (Hr 25 to Hr 30) at the last moment.