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Biography
Education:
She graduated from the Karpenko-Karyi Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television, where she received a master's degree in puppet theatre directing. She began her professional career at the Kyiv Academic Municipal Puppet Theater as a designer of puppets (2003–2006). She currently holds the position of chief designer at the Kyiv Academic Drama Theater in Podil.
Teaching experience:
She teaches at the Department of Puppet Theater Arts at her alma mater, lecturing on “Fundamentals of Theater Space Composition” and “Puppet Theater Scenography.”
She participated in the Erasmus+ international mobility program at the Aleksander Zelwerowicz National Academy of Theatre Arts in Warsaw. Author of the workshop “Making a Full-Size Characteristic Mask. Contemporary Commedia dell'arte.”
In her teaching and artistic activities, Maria Pogrebnyak emphasizes that what excites her most is the moment when a flat sketch begins to “breathe” on stage, coming to life thanks to the actor.
Performances:
Kyiv Academic Drama Theatre in Podil: set designer for Anatoliy Krym's play "Levushka," directed by Igor Slavinsky, costume designer Nina Rudenko (2010), Ivan Karpenko-Kary's "One Hundred Thousand," directed by Vitaliy Malakhov, costume designer Nina Rudenko (2008), Ivan Franko's "The Magpie's Wing", director Vitaliy Malakhov, costume designer Nina Rudenko (2016), "Vernissage on Andriivskyi" based on the text and directed by Vitaliy Malakhov, costume designer Nina Rudenko (2014);
Set design and costumes: 1984, based on the play by Michael Gene Sullivan, inspired by the novel by George Orwell, directed by Serhiy Pavliuk (2019); The Stranger, directed and adapted by Volodymyr Kudlinsky (2024), Love Potion based on the works of the Kapranov brothers, directed by Serhiy Pavliuk (2021), Comedians in a version by Avtandil Varsimashvili, director and author of the musical arrangement Volodymyr Kudlinsky (2023), The Girl with the Teddy Bear, or Underage... based on the novel by Viktor Domontovich, director Stas Zhyrkov (2018);
Artistic technologist and costume designer for Joanna Murray-Smith's play Switzerland, director Polina Medvedeva, set design by Andreas von Schlippe (2024).
Ivan Franko National Drama Theatre, Kyiv: set designer and costume designer for the play "I, Zorba the Greek" by Vitaly Malakhov and Anatoly Khostikoyev, based on the novel by Nikos Kazantzakis, directed by Vitaly Malakhov (2010). In collaboration with director Andriy Prykhodko, the artist created the set design and costumes for the plays: Ingmar Bergman's Persona (2016), Pedro Calderón de la Barca's Life is a Dream (2017) and Brian Friel's Lunas (2019).
In 2018, she worked at the National Operetta Theatre on the production of Moskalytsia, based on the work by Maria Matios and directed by Vlada Belozenko.
At the Golden Gate Theatre, she designed the set for Ivan Vyrypaev's play Illusions, directed by Stas Zhirkov (2016).
Kharkiv State Academic Puppet Theatre named after Viktor Afanasyev: set designer and costume designer for the play Parajanov. Balcony of Childhood by Alisa Gladkova, director Alisa Gladkova, animation by Asya Kravchenko (2025).
Arlek_inn Training Theatre of the Karpenko-Karyi Kyiv National University of Theatre, Cinema and Television: set designer and costume designer for the play The Little Devil from the Box, based on Ray Bradbury's story. Director: Alisa Gladkova (2024).
Exhibitions:
2025 — Participation in the Danilo Lider Triennial of Scenography “Kyiv School” at the National Museum “Kyiv Art Gallery”
2025 — participant in the international exhibition “Lviv Quadrennial of Stage Design 2025. A Point Changes Space”
Participant in projects:
2023 — Ukrainian National Pavilion “Garden of Living Things” at the Prague Quadrennial, Prague, Czech Republic
2022 — Residency of Ukrainian scenographers in Georgia, Tbilisi Biennale of Scenography
Awards / memberships:
Member of the National Union of Theatre Artists of Ukraine and UNIMA Ukraine.
