The revival of the Jewish theater in Ukraine began at the end of the 1980s. The true heir to the traditions of the Kyiv State Jewish Theater was the Sholom Aleichem Jewish Music and Drama Theater. The history of its creation began with a creative “kapusnyk” in May 1990. A few months later, on the initiative of Avigdor Freidlis, “Yehudim” Jewish Youth Theater Studio was founded in Kyiv. In 1993, on its basis, the Jewish Chamber Theater was created, which received its current name in 1998. However, due to the lack of an audience for Yiddish-language performances, this theater made productions in Russian (rarely Ukrainian) languages, performing only part of the musical numbers in Yiddish.
The repertoire of the theater, which is updated every year, includes plays and musicals. Among the most famous resolutions of the Jewish Music and Drama Theater “Erev Tov” (1990, based on the works of poets and composers of the 20th century), “Triptych for two” by Semen Zlotnikov (1993), “Sholom Aleichem evening” (1995, based on the works of Sholom Aleichem), “Shosha” by Isaac Bashevis Singer (1997), “On the ruins” based on Lesya Ukrainka's poem (1998), “Tsartstviye nebesne” by Mykhailo Shaievych (2000, based on Sholom Aleichem works), “Almost a love triangle” by О. Galin (2007).
The permanent artistic director of the theater is Avigdor Freidlis, Honored Artist of Ukraine, member of the National Union of Theater Artists of Ukraine, member of the National Union of Artists of Israel. Director T. Baranets, O. Umansky worked in the theater at different times; actors I. Bergelson, V. Vesnin, H. Zhemchuzhna, L. Kubarska, B. Mazur, A. Makarovsky, chief artist B. Synko; musical directors V. Vanyukevich, I. Vynarskyi, V. Rubinskyi.
Sholom Aleichem Jewish Music and Drama Theater is a laureate of awards at a number of international theater festivals. Thus, already the first performance based on the work of E. Sevela “Stop the plane, I'll get off!” received the prize of the International Festival in Tartu (Estonia). The theater was awarded the diploma of the international festival of ethnic theaters of Ukraine and the Euroregion “Ethno-Dia-Sphere” (2006), the diploma of the festival of tolerance as part of the days of remembrance of the victims of the Holocaust in St. Petersburg (2007), etc. The Jewish Music and Drama Theater – laureate of the International Festival of the Countries of the Black Sea Club “Homo Ludens” (2013).
It should be noted that modern Ukrainian theaters include in their repertoire a significant number of productions based on the works of Jewish writers. Many productions on Jewish themes have already become theatrical classics in many countries of the world.