Two young Ukrainian women are highlighting the reality of war through two autobiographical plays, coming to the Balor Arts Centre on Wednesday 26th March.
Anastasiia Todchuk (19) and Tatiana Novokhatnia (25), who are both Drama Students at Ulster University, have turned their personal experiences of survival, identity, loss, and hope into plays entitled Only Hope and The Escape Artist.
The plays reveal two perspectives on the same story, The Russia – Ukraine war. The protagonists are individually forced to leave their homeland, families, and the only life they have known, in search of safety.
Written and performed by Anastasiia Todchuk “Only Hope” presents the inspiring story of Stacey, a courageous 16-year-old girl, who is thrust into a world of uncertainty and grief as the violence of war ravages her country. Fleeing without her family, Stacey’s journey from her war-torn city to an unknown future in a foreign land, (Ireland) highlights the immense physical, emotional, and psychological toll that war takes on the innocent, especially the youngest among us.
Tatiana Novokhatnia performs “The Escape Artist”, an autobiographical performance about a young Ukrainian refugee whose journey of survival and self-discovery is intertwined with her imagination and creative writing. This gripping theatrical experience will explore the intersection of trauma, resilience, and the transformative power of storytelling, as one woman seeks to reclaim her sense of agency and hope after losing everything in the wake of war.
This work is a timely and poignant reminder of the humanitarian crisis that continues to unfold in Ukraine and around the world. The performances filled with sorrow and hope, serves as both a call for empathy and a reflection on the resilience of the human spirit. Total running time 65 minutes.
The play is suitable for audiences of 12+ and is a powerful educational tool for discussions surrounding the refugee experience, war, and survival.
The production is part of the Ulster University Drama ‘Playmakers Series’.
‘Playmakers’ is an in-house production company on the UU Drama degree program, founded by Dr.Adrian O’Connell (UU Access Ambassador) for the development of professional practice among the diverse and talented student cohort. Adrian has 30 years’ experience in the industry and has a professional background which combines Co-Creative Media, Theatre, Digital Storytelling and Community Engagement. O’Connell directs both Only Hope and The Escape Artist.
Tickets are available now from the Balor Arts Centre and online.
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