You're reading: Night Owl: An outdoors party

Near parliament yet hidden in lush-green hills stands possibly the strangest club in Kyiv – the Green Theater.

Once a ruin of a fortification structure, it served as an outdoor theater briefly during Soviet times. Along with the Soviet Union, the Green Theater decayed and became shelter for hippies, wanderers and other forsaken souls.

But ultimately, it was quietly privatized, fenced off and turned into a summer party zone. To find it, you have to head along Parkova Alley following directions to Kureni, the famous ethnic restaurant on the hills. The fence around the Green Theater is hard to miss. You will go down a few steps as you enter its territory, and will find a stage with seats at the end, with a bar stretching on your right to pick an aperitif.

This year, it opened the season on the same day that Euro 2012 football championship games kicked off – on June 8. Parties have been kicking four times per week and will continue in this high-paced rhythm until about September.

Entrance is Hr 70 or Hr 50 if you are lucky enough to be handed a leaflet in the street. Rain is not a problem, either. A part of the club has a marquee stretched over it.

Drinks are reasonably priced. The cheapest thing to drink is juice (Hr 10). But who needs that when vodka shots go for Hr 20 and long drinks for Hr 30-40.

Music here varies. A live act is often followed by indie or rock, after which electronic DJs kick in. Sometime you find yourself dancing and even singing to silly pop tunes. Usually and whatever the music, big crowds get lure into the magic atmosphere provided by dancing outdoors at a “Green Theater.”

Mathew Hunter, a designer living in Kyiv, came to the club for the first time on June 8. He had not heard any of the legends or stories associated with the place.

“I’m here for the first time, and never heard any myth about this place, but surprisingly everyone else did,” says Hunter. But that’s not what he came for, anyway.  “I didn’t like the music in the beginning because I don’t have any clue who was singing, but the next DJ who played was good.”

On the night Kyiv Post visited, the atmosphere was relaxing. People were young, friendly, chatty and interesting. The word “non-conformist” comes to mind.

“I was pleasantly surprised when Green was open. People here look adequate and interesting. I feel comfortable among the hipsters public,” says Daryna Hozeeva, who works as a tour organizer for trips to the Carpathian Mountains.

“But the main advantage is the location. The panorama of Kyiv is awesome,” she added.

Apart from the panorama, the place offers a range of simpler human comforts. Down the hill from the main white dance and lounge area, a separate building houses toilets no worse than the ones in the fan zone on Khreshchatyk.

Those people seeking privacy or just rest from the music and crowd can hide in an alcove of the ancient fortification wall, or choose a seat there that allows one to observe the panorama of Kyiv.

Air! That’s the main advantage of the club. It does not matter how many people smoke, there is always plenty to breathe which, in turn, allows you to party till the small hours of dawn.

It’s a great feeling when you’re dancing and suddenly realize the sun is rising in the sky. The night flies by, but somehow you still feel fresh and happy as a new day starts without the regular hours of sleep.

Kyiv Post staff writer Elena Pashkovskaya can be reached at [email protected]