On December 24, the media service MEGOGO will premiere the Christmas musical "There Lived a Dog Named Sirko" — the first Ukrainian full-length musical created specifically for online viewing. The film marks the directorial debut of Vasyl Baidak and combines contemporary music, humor, and Ukrainian traditions.

Plot and Concept

The musical tells the story of an ordinary family that accidentally gets caught up in a whirlwind of Christmas adventures together with the dog Sirko and a "wolf pack." The screenplay, written by Vasyl Baidak and Yuriy Karagodin, adapts the familiar Ukrainian folk tale to modern realities, preserving the spirit of tradition while adding contemporary humor and musicality.

"When I recall New Year holidays in childhood, I remember the feeling of warm entertainment content that you want to watch with the whole family — without tension, with joy. I really wanted to recreate exactly that feeling," comments director Vasyl Baidak.

Star Cast

The musical features over 50 actors, musicians, and TV hosts. The main role of dog Sirko is performed by Oleksiy Zavgorodniy (POSITIFF). Among the project participants are also:

  • Kateryna Pavlenko (Monokate)
  • Oleg Skrypka
  • Yulia Yurina and the "Gvara" ensemble
  • Daniela Zayushkina (VIVIENNE MORT)
  • Misha Pravylniy
  • Vitaliy Kozlovskiy
  • Badstreet Boys band featuring Slava Kedr, Volodymyr Dantes and others

"I immediately felt that this would be a modern and cool interpretation of the fairy tale, with great humor, that I would definitely want to watch myself and show to my loved ones," said POSITIFF about participating in the project.

Musical Score

Several original songs were created for the musical. The main composition "This Is Not a Dream" is the result of collaboration between POSITIFF and Yulia Yurina, written specifically to match the rhythm and dramaturgy of the film. Its premiere is also scheduled for December 24. Additionally, Misha Pravylniy wrote an original song that reveals the characters of the main heroes.

Filming and Sets

Filming took place in Kyiv on the territory of the "Mamayeva Sloboda" museum, which became the basis for the film's visual concept. Part of the sets were built from scratch — from the main character's doghouse to festive tables with detailed decorations. Artificial snow was used to create winter atmosphere regardless of weather conditions.

Project Mission

"We want watching holiday musicals on MEGOGO to become a new tradition for Ukrainians. At a time when many families are separated by war, shared online viewing helps feel the warmth of home and be closer to each other," said the musical's producer Valeria Tolochyna.

The musical "There Lived a Dog Named Sirko" will become available to all MEGOGO subscribers on December 24. The project is implemented with support from general partners Visa and PUMB.