The Kyiv Academic Drama Theatre in Podil was founded in 1987, headed by V. Malakhov, and for a long time worked as a travelling theatre.

The main stage was located in the Gostiny Dvor on Kontraktova Square, and there was also a home theatre stage on the 2nd floor of the administrative building at 20-B Andriyivskyy Descent (which became the first cultural institution on the street). It still operates here, along with the I. Slavinsky Theatre Living Room.

A new stage was opened in 2017 in the neighbouring building, which won the Architecture of Cultural and Social Facilities award at the Ukrainian Urban Awards and was nominated for the Mies van der Rohe Prize of the European Union for its design. More than 50 performances based on works by Ukrainian and foreign authors are staged in the two buildings.