THE METAPHORIC NATURE OF SCENOGRAPHIC IMAGES IN CONTEMPORARY UKRAINIAN THEATRE

Abstract

The article explores the metaphorical nature of scenographic images in contemporary Ukrainian theatre productions. It argues that scenography functions not merely as a decorative element but as an autonomous artistic language capable of conveying the director’s idea, emotional atmosphere, and philosophical meaning of a performance.
The study analyses the interaction between directing and scenography in the creation of multilayered metaphorical stage
imagery, revealing the role of spatial composition, light, costume, and movement in shaping the visual metaphor.
Based on examples from Ukrainian theatre productions such as Miss Julie, The Granary, Ivasyk Telesyk, Refugee Cats, and The King Is Dying, the authors demonstrate how scenographic metaphors emerge through the synthesis of visual, spatial, and performative elements. These metaphors transform ordinary stage space into a symbolic realm that deepens the audience’s emotional perception of the performance.
Special attention is given to the phenomenon of «scenographic directing» as a characteristic feature of twentyfirst-century theatre, where the director and the scenographer act as co-authors of a unified visual and dramatic concept.
The study concludes that the metaphorical scenographic image becomes a key expressive means for translating dramatic
conflict and expanding the aesthetic boundaries of theatrical art.