Welcome to Culbaba Theatre — a registered charity based in Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex. We preserve and bring to life Ukrainian traditions through music, rituals, folk arts and theatre, combining research and historical understanding with professional artistic practice.
Cultural Focus
Our work focuses on Ukrainian traditional music, regional vocal traditions, rituals, customs, theatre and folk arts. Our repertoire spans centuries: some of the music we perform is more than 250 years old, while other traditions have been passed down through generations and remain part of Ukrainian cultural life today.
We are particularly interested in regional and lesser-known material, bringing traditions that might otherwise remain in archives, old publications or family memory back into living practice.
Research & Artistic Practice
Research is an essential part of our artistic work. We draw on archival materials, historical publications, musical manuscripts, ethnographic studies, museum collections and documented regional traditions to understand not only what was performed, but how and why.
Where possible, we work directly with original sources and consult museums, researchers and cultural specialists in Ukraine and the UK. This research informs our musical arrangements, performances, reconstructions, workshops and educational work, helping us present Ukrainian traditions with their history and meaning intact.
People & Purpose
Culbaba brings together Ukrainians from different regions of the country, each with their own memories, local traditions and experiences. Working together allows us to learn from one another, reconnect with parts of our culture and build a sense of community far from home.
That connection also reaches across generations. Children grow up seeing their parents sing, make, celebrate and share Ukrainian traditions, gaining knowledge that might otherwise be difficult to pass on while living abroad. For adults, taking part offers friendship, purpose and a space to stay connected to language, culture and one another.
At the same time, our performances, workshops and events create opportunities for Ukrainian and British communities to meet beyond the headlines. Sharing music, stories and traditions helps people understand one another, build new relationships and makes Ukrainian culture a visible part of the place we now call home.