THEATER — A PLACE FOR CREATIVITY OR A TEMPLE FOR SERVICE?This performance reveals real-life stories of theater professionals from Kharkiv. If you’ve always believed that theater is a “temple of art,” where people serve grand ideas and sacrifice everything for the birth of the beautiful, we will show you a different reality.It’s important to understand that this system exists not because of a group of malicious individuals who want to turn theater into a religion. The rigid ideology and religious motifs have taken root over several generations, born out of psychological traumas and societal issues.
WORKING THROUGH TRAUMA AND SEEKING UNDERSTANDINGThis performance is an attempt to reflect on the traumas of previous generations and understand how Soviet policies — censorship, repression, Holodomor, and the impact of World War II — shaped our collective psyche. It’s about what we can do with that experience today.
We aim to break the silence around uncomfortable topics and encourage open conversations. Our goal is to support the fight against the culture of silence, find ways to overcome fear, learn to resist manipulation, and avoid burnout in our profession.
BASED ON TRUE STORIESThe script is inspired by anonymous real-life stories of theater professionals. We interviewed almost 30 people from different positions in the theater world — actors, directors, teachers, and members of various theater workshops.
WHY WE CHOSE ACTORS OF THREE DIFFERENT GENERATIONSThe cast includes 4 actresses and 2 actors, ranging in age from 18 to 73. This allowed us to explore the challenges of both Soviet and post-Soviet times and observe how theater and its people have changed over the past 50 years. Our goal is to create a caring and respectful interaction on stage and in the theater space, listening carefully to each other’s boundaries and considering everyone’s desires and perspectives.
JOIN US TO SEE THE RESULTS OF THIS EXPERIMENTYou’ll witness a candid conversation between actors, fascinating facts about theater, and reflections expressed not only through words but also through body movements. Expect wild avant-garde electronic music by Nick Acorne and stunning costumes by Detonate Clothing.
Duration: 1 hour 15 minutes