Solutions from Ukraine: "I She Her" play showcases women's stories in Kyiv, Kharkiv and Lviv theaters
Photo: Diana Fedoriaka
A group of four actresses from the Kharkiv Nafta Theater took the lead in producing the play "I She Her," which aims to showcase a distinctly female perspective on life and challenge the stereotypes faced by women throughout their lives.
Rubryka writes about it.
What is the problem?
Despite many efforts to support women, the issue of women's experiences being unseen is still prevalent in Ukrainian society. Women's narratives are frequently disregarded or downplayed, and women remain hidden.
Despite the increasing number of women in the Ukrainian army, issues specifically concerning women in the military continue to be ignored.
What is the solution?
Therefore, a team of four actresses from the Kharkiv Nafta Theater came up with the idea to create the play "I She Her" to showcase a distinct female perspective on life and challenge the societal norms that women often face.
Photo: Mariia Donska
This summer, the play premiered in the Austrian city of Graz. On October 24, 27, and 31, "I She Her" will be performed in Lviv, Kyiv, and Kharkiv, respectively.
How does it work?
As the play came together, the director and actress Vladyslava Chentsova drew on interviews with women of different ages and occupations. From these, the writer crafted a script that interwove documentary accounts into a poetic backdrop.
Photo: Mariia Donska
Later, artist Marho Sarkisova made puppets to create a separation for examination using the distancing effect of puppetry.
The play's protagonist is a girl who embarks on a journey through various stages of her growing up. This portrayal is a composite of carefully curated interviews. The girl delves into her childhood memories, reflects on her experiences growing up, confronts the challenges of war, navigates the complexities of maturity, and grapples with the idea of old age.
This girl isn't waiting for a "prince charming" to rescue her. Instead, she's taking matters into her own hands and traveling to the Donetsk region to propose to her boyfriend. She's actively searching for new ways to handle her situation.
"An important topic for me is the transformation in the process of growing up. This is the moment when the personal process ceases to be personal. Society closely monitors how we grow, give birth or not give birth, grow old, and so on," the director of the play, actress Vladyslava Chentsova, said.
Photo: Mariia Donska
The Ukrainian Women's Fund is sponsoring the Ukrainian tour. Entry to the performance is free, but one must register in advance:
- Please register here to attend the show on October 24 in Lviv.
- For the October 27 show in Kyiv, register here.
- Registration for the Kharkiv show has already closed.
At the screenings, the team will be collecting funds to support two important causes:
- the movement Veteranka,
- and the social initiative "Arm Women Now".
The play was created in collaboration with the Austrian organization uniT.
For reference:
Recently, it was announced that the independent theater Nafta will be hosting the debut of "HARTEDE 20," a play about the literary scene in Kharkiv during the previous century. On the stage of Some People, the names of Ukrainian avant-garde artists, previously forbidden, were brought to life in a performance at the end of August. This showing uncovered the lasting impact of these artists who laid the groundwork for Ukraine's present day.
The Kharkiv Theater in Kyiv also revealed that it will showcase the debut of "Someone Like Me," a physical performance centered on our bodies' ability to adjust to peril.
Moreover, it has been reported that the audio description agency Slovom plans to increase accessibility for individuals with disabilities at theater performances. Rubryka's article outlines the process and discusses why it should be adopted throughout the cultural sphere.
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