Alternative

[Show temporarily suspended]

Alternative

[Show temporarily suspended]

Alternative

[Show temporarily suspended]

"Alternative" — a dystopian fantasy performance. A thriller about an apocalyptic future in 2054, focusing on environmental issues and consumer culture.
PLOT:
Beneath the ground, a growing vibration can be felt. The earth’s crust cracks, and through the craters, a green mist slowly seeps out. This marks the beginning of the countdown. The toxic green gas will soon saturate every atom of the atmosphere. Anyone who breathes it dies instantly. The gas penetrates everything: earth, asphalt, water, concrete… and human lungs.
Meanwhile, in a small apartment on the 502nd floor, the Poet/Poetess is still unaware of the world’s impending end. Their soul is tormented by creative burnout and the loss of artistic purpose. They decide to quit poetry for good.
The gas continues to spread across the land, consuming entire neighborhoods within minutes. The last place it will reach is the 502nd floor of the tallest skyscraper in the city, where the Poet/Poetess resides.
As the apocalypse nears, the apartment becomes a gathering place for the Neighbor, the Cat, the best Friend, and the Mayor of the city. In a state of growing anxiety, they try to unravel the causes of the environmental catastrophe, explore their tangled relationships, and reflect on the role of art in their lives. Meanwhile, the green gas rises higher and higher.
Strange and shocking truths begin to unfold. Garbage, which has long become an integral part of their reality, infests every item in the apartment. The walls, sofa, and carpets are fused with plastic, polyethylene, and polystyrene. There’s so much waste that it eventually takes on a life of its own, transforming into an autonomous Entity. This Influential Object, a creation of human negligence, becomes the master of the apocalypse. Moments before the end of the world, it shows signs of life, starts talking to everyone, and threatens them.
The phantasmagoric kaleidoscope spirals further into absurdity, involving laser shootouts, betrayals, and time travel. Dreams, fears, and memories merge into a single reality, existing simultaneously in the Poet’s/Poetess’s mind. This whirlwind of thoughts consumes the protagonist’s consciousness, blending with the green gas already filling their lungs…
FUN FACTS ABOUT THE PERFORMANCE:
Two casts, two experiences
You can watch the show performed by different actors. We’ve created two acting teams that alternate. Today you might see one version, and tomorrow — the same story, but with a different cast. In the first version, the Poet is played by a man, the neighbor is Elvira, there’s a Cat, and the Mayor is a man. In the second version, the Poet becomes a Poetess, the Cat turns into a Tomcat, neighbor Albert is replaced by Albina, and so on.
Second-hand costumes
All costumes were bought from second-hand stores. This is a conscious decision that reflects the message of the play — mindful consumption and giving a second life to old things.
Live music
The performance features live music by Stas Kononov, who plays guitar and synthesizer. Expect a mix of punk, synth-pop, guitar lyricism, and ambient music. All compositions were specially created for the show by Stas Kononov and Oleg Kadanov.
Recycled scenography
The entire set design is made from waste materials collected by the theater team during preparation. Plastic bottles, tetra packs, polyethylene, and paper — the team gathered a whole garage full of recyclables to create every object on stage from secondary raw materials.
The search for alternatives
While working on this production, we discovered that many things have alternatives. Replacing or swapping actors? Easy. Buying second-hand instead of new? No problem. Using recycled materials for props and avoiding new items? Totally doable. You can replace objects, technologies, even people — but Earth is one of a kind. Our daily life choices and the search for alternatives in everyday routines will determine whether we can continue living comfortably on this planet.
Premiere: October 8, 2021
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes

Director: Artem Vusyk
First Cast:
Albert: Yarik Podshyvalov
Samanta Myers: Vlada Chentsova
Neighbor Elvira: Sasha Kasyanova
Cat: Sasha Malatskovska
Nature/Host/Mayor h/Narrator/Ladybug: Dima Tretyak
Musician: Stas Kononov
Influential Object: Artem Vusyk
Costume designer: Sasha Shai
Second Cast:
Albina: Nina Batovska
Samanta Myers: Katya Liubchenko
Neighbor Ernesto: Sasha Shai
Tomcat: Oleg Kadanov
Nature/Hostess/Mayor h/Narrator/Ladybug: Yulia Linnyk
Musician: Stas Kononov
Influential Object: Artem Vusyk
Costume Designer: Polina Polikarpova
Composers: Stas Kononov, Oleg Kadanov
Choreographer: Nina Khyzhna
Lighting designer: Sasha Chyzh
Scenographer: Andrii Khvorostianov
Makeup artist: Valeria Kuzmenko
Sound engineer: Anton Behmenko

Nafta Theatre

OUR ADDRESS

21/23, Chornoglazivska Street, Kharkiv

TICKETS BOOKING

+380 50 509 3435

E-MAIL

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Our activities are supported by the European Endowment for Democracy (EED). Its contents do not necessarily reflect the official position of the EED. The information or views expressed in this material are the sole responsibility of the authors.





All rights Reserved

Nafta Theatre

OUR ADDRESS

21/23, Chornoglazivska Street, Kharkiv

TICKETS BOOKING

+380 50 509 3435

E-MAIL

moc.liamg%40tfen.ertaeht

Illustration

Our activities are supported by the European Endowment for Democracy (EED). Its contents do not necessarily reflect the official position of the EED. The information or views expressed in this material are the sole responsibility of the authors.





All rights Reserved