Larysa Ivanivna Khorolets ( uk, Лариса Іванівна Хоролець; 25 August 1948 – 12 April 2022) was a Ukrainian actress, playwright, cultural manager, politician, and academic teacher. She played at the
Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater
The Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater ( ''Націона́льний академі́чний драмати́чний теа́тр і́мені Іва́на Франка́'' ) in Kyiv was founded in 1920. It rightfully plays an importan ...
from 1973 to 1990. She served as the
Minister of Culture of Ukraine in the
Ukrainian SSR
The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic ( uk, Украї́нська Радя́нська Соціалісти́чна Респу́бліка, ; russian: Украи́нская Сове́тская Социалисти́ческая Респ ...
from August 1991, and upon
Ukraine
Ukraine ( uk, Україна, Ukraïna, ) is a country in Eastern Europe. It is the second-largest European country after Russia, which it borders to the east and northeast. Ukraine covers approximately . Prior to the ongoing Russian inv ...
's independence later that year, serving until 1992. Afterward, she held positions in cultural management, diplomatic service, and academic teaching.
Life and career
Acting and writing
Khorolets was born in Kyiv. She made her acting debut in the film ''Partizanskaya iskra'' in 1957 at the age of nine.
She graduated from the
in 1970.
After graduating she served in the
National Writers' Union of Ukraine
The National Writers' Union of Ukraine ( uk, Національна спілка письменників України) (''НСПУ'') is a voluntary social-creative association of professional writers, poets, prose writers, playwrights, criti ...
, and from 1973 to 1990 she was an actress at the
Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater
The Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater ( ''Націона́льний академі́чний драмати́чний теа́тр і́мені Іва́на Франка́'' ) in Kyiv was founded in 1920. It rightfully plays an importan ...
.
Her first role there was in Olenka's ''The Dove Deer''. Other roles included Anna in
Ivan Franko
Ivan Yakovych Franko (Ukrainian: Іван Якович Франко, pronounced ˈwɑn ˈjɑkowɪtʃ frɐnˈkɔ 27 August 1856 – 28 May 1916) was a Ukrainian poet, writer, social and literary critic, journalist, interpreter, economist, ...
's ''Stolen Happiness'' and Sophia in Ivan Karpenko-Kary's ''Untalanna''.
In 1988, she was named a
People's Artist of Ukraine
People's Artist of Ukraine is an honorary and the highest title awarding to outstanding performing artists whose merits are exceptional in the sphere of the development of the performing arts (theatre, music, dance, circus, cinema, etc.).
Establ ...
.
Her plays, including ''Сирени'' (''The Lilacs''), ''Мені тридцять'' (''The Thirty-Five of Me''), "Сирени", "Мені тридцять", ''Третій'' (''The Third'') and ''На вулиці Електричній'' (''On the Electric Street''), were staged at many theatres in Ukraine.
Minister of Culture
In 1991, after attending the World Conference of Women Playwrights in
Toronto
Toronto ( ; or ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Ontario. With a recorded population of 2,794,356 in 2021, it is the most populous city in Canada and the fourth most populous city in North America. The city is the ancho ...
, Canada, Khorolets was nominated to be the
Minister of Culture of Ukraine. She accepted, and served from 7 July 1991 to 17 November 1992.
Her primary role as Minister of Culture was to rebuild; she needed to kickstart theatres which had been abandoned after the fall of communism in Ukraine.
At a reception of diplomats, she said: "Russia is our partner – our equal partner. We may differ, but they are our neighbors and we are linked economically."
She left the cabinet when the new President was elected. Khorolets remained working in the government, serving as director of the convention centre known as
Ukrainian House
The International Convention Center "Ukrainian House" ( uk, Український дім. Міжнародний конгрес-центр) is the largest international exhibition and convention center in Kyiv, Ukraine. Popularly referred to a ...
until 1998.
Other positions
Khorolets was deputy head of the Ukrainian National Taras Shevchenko Award Committee from 1991 to 1996. She was an assistant counselor of the
Embassy of Ukraine in Germany from 1998 to 2004, in Ukrainian-German commission meetings. She then was a Humanitarian Commissioner of the
Verkhovna Rada
The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine ( uk, Верхо́вна Ра́да Украї́ни, translit=, Verkhovna Rada Ukrainy, translation=Supreme Council of Ukraine, Ukrainian abbreviation ''ВРУ''), often simply Verkhovna Rada or just Rada, is the ...
of Ukraine, working for human rights, until 2012.
In 2006, she took part in an international scientific workshop of the
National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy
National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy ( NaUKMA) ( uk, Національний університет «Києво-Могилянська академія» (НаУКМА)) is a national, research university located in Kyiv, Ukraine. The ...
in Kyiv, Women and Political Movements, as Advisor to the Ombudsman of Ukraine.
She took part in a CD recording of contemporary Ukrainian literature and plays, by Liubko Deresh and
Lesya Ukrainka, in 2006.
Teaching
She was active in teaching for 20 years. In 2014, she was appointed professor at the department of dramatic theatre at the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts. In November 2016, she became head of the department of stage and audiovisual art at the
.
Death
Khorolets died on 12 April 2022, at the age of 73.
References
External links
*
*
National Writers Union of Ukraine hosts the book launch by Leyla Aliyevaaztc.gov.az 2021
{{DEFAULTSORT:Khorolets, Larysa
1948 births
2022 deaths
Politicians from Kyiv
Kyiv National I. K. Karpenko-Kary Theatre, Cinema and Television University alumni
Culture ministers of Ukraine
20th-century Ukrainian women politicians
Ukrainian actresses
Ukrainian dramatists and playwrights
Women government ministers of Ukraine
Recipients of the Order of Princess Olga, 3rd class
Theatre people from Kyiv