Director: Yevheniia Vidishcheva
Dramaturg: Andriy Bondarenko
Actresses: Marusya Ionova, Nadia Holubtsova
Saxophone: Andrii Barmalii
Drums: Oleksandr Yavdyk
Electronic music: Walakos
Bloggers: Ania Hretchkina and Nastia Hretchkina
VJ: Pavlo Sirko
Costumes: Oleksandra Verkhovska
Design: Oleksandra Kovalova
Production: Vidlik projects, NASHi (Ukraine)
*The show uses loud music
- Do you have a space where you feel safe?
- I have.
- Tell me.
- Grandma's house. She couldn't solve my problems, but at least she didn't multiply them. She would just tell me: "Nastia! Everything will be fine!" Grandma never criticized me like a mother. In the mornings, she would bake pancakes and life would be beautiful again."
quote from the play
Anna and Anastasiya Hrechkina are twin sisters from Mariupol, artists and activists who not only worked on various artistic projects in their hometown, but also had plans to open a vegan café and an organic recycled goods shop.
On the morning of 24 February 2022, when the large-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine began, the two sisters witnessed the tragedy of their city. Three weeks, days and minutes of the siege of Mariupol, and thus of the sisters' lives, are reflected in their diaries, which are voiced by the actresses Marusia Ionova and Nadia Holubtsova in the performance Maria's City.
This performance opens a window into a space where everyday life can suddenly become a nightmare. The performers combine different genres of music live on stage, including traditional Ukrainian folk music and songs from the Donetsk region. As the audience is enveloped in a soundscape, videos from the characters' childhood homes are juxtaposed with harrowing news stories about battles in the city.
Creators on the performance
Today, Ukraine is on the frontline of the largest land war since World War II. But Ukrainians have been on the frontline of information warfare for much longer. For decades, Russia has been trying to destroy Ukraine by means of Russification and propaganda. Through false narratives and certain forms of culture and art, it has sought to erase the national identity of Ukrainians. Now we see this tactic spreading and intensifying with the help of political hit men all over the world - Putin, Modi, Orban, Trump.
Anna and Anastasia's creative testimony is much more than just a narrative of survival. This work recreates Ukrainian stories and tells them in the collective voice of Ukrainians.
We hope that "Maria's City" will create a space for an honest discussion with the rest of the world about the war in the heart of Europe and the solidarity needed to defeat tyranny once and for all.
About the creators
The director of the play is Yevhenia Vidishcheva, a theatre and music artist, producer and co-founder of the production organisation Vidlik Projects. She works on documentary projects on social and political themes, recently focusing on war and its consequences.
Andrii Bondarenko is a playwright, founder of the Dramaturgical Theater, working on social and political themes, with a focus on the psychological side of a situation. His plays have been staged in various theatres in Ukraine and abroad.
Nadiya Golubtsova and Marusia Ionova (Mariia&Magdalyna) - artists working at the intersection of theatre and music, researching Ukrainian literature, collaborating with various musicians.
Andrii Martynenko (Andrii Barmalii) - multidisciplinary artist, performer and composer. The experience of the COVID-19 pandemic inspired him to actively compose music, while the large-scale Russian war in Ukraine pushed him to start a solo project. Reflecting on personal and social crises, Andrii transforms his insights into musical and physical theatre performances.
Oleksandr Yavdyk - artist, drummer. Years of practice allow him to create capacious sounds and improvise in various musical and theatrical projects.
Andrii Sokolov (Walakos) - artist, electronic music creator, composer. Main genres are breakbeat, IDM and a fusion of dark, lyrical styles. Andrii works with dramaturgy to create music.
Pavlo Hunko (Pavlo Sirko) - artist and DJ. The main idea and goal of his work is to see and touch things in real life that seem unreal. He combines different media, devices and technological solutions.
Producers
Experimental Theatre Club NASHi aims to provide emerging Ukrainian theatre artists with the opportunity to create innovative stage works for a global audience. The mission is to bring the stories of the Ukrainian people into the public arena as they deal with the complex dilemmas of good and evil in the shadow of war.
Vidlik Projects is a team working on artistic ideas, meanings and contexts.