Kyiv School of Economics, in partnership with MUR, is launching a short online course about Yevhen Chykalenko — a Ukrainian public figure, publisher, and philanthropist. The course was created ahead of the musical’s premiere to introduce the audience to his life and work, providing the necessary historical and personal context before the performance.
The course lasts approximately one hour and follows a chronological sequence — from Chykalenko’s childhood and Kharkiv period to his later activities and the events leading to the creation of the Ukrainian People’s Republic. Participants will learn more about Chykalenko himself, his social circle, and his contribution to the development of Ukrainian social and cultural life. Special attention is given to Chykalenko as an innovator, as well as the stories of his wife and daughter.
The course is based on research materials by historian Maksym Honchar, PhD, who collaborates with the MUR team to study the life and work of Yevhen Chykalenko. Optical Character Recognition (OCR) technology was also used when working with sources, allowing text from scanned documents to be converted into digital format, simplifying the processing of historical materials.
“Chykalenko did much to ensure that the Ukrainian language, press, and culture could develop. Today, it is important to tell his story so that people understand the conditions under which it all happened and the cost of those decisions. MUR works with this story through theater and music; we add the educational component. Understanding one’s own history requires facts, context, and the opportunity to figure everything out independently. This is one of the most important things education can provide,” notes Tymofiy Mylovanov, President of the Kyiv School of Economics.
The course lasts about an hour. Participants can complete it online at their own pace, with no final testing.
“The course does not replace the performance and does not spoil it — on the contrary, it adds important context. Afterward, you will recognize historical details more easily and follow the stage action with even greater interest. We have said it many times: our task is to spark interest and provide an impulse to explore further. Because history does not end after the final scene. From there, you are the ones writing this history,” emphasized the MUR creative collective.
The online course serves as an introduction to the musical, helping viewers better understand the historical context, characters, and events presented in the performance. It can be completed online at any convenient time.
