Marko Lukych Kropyvnytskyi was a Ukrainian writer, dramaturge, composer, theatre actor and director. Over his career Kropyvnytskyi wrote 40 plays, played in over 500 roles of various repertoire, as well as wrote several songs.

The Ukrainska Besida Theatre – was the first Ukrainian professional theatre in operation from 1864 to 1924. Its first performance took place in the premises of The Ukrainian National Home building in Lviv. The theatre was subsidized by the Ruska Besida Society in Lviv and occasionally supported by the Galician Diet.