What comes to mind when we think about Lesya Ukrainka? A sickly and weak girl who laughed through her tears? The author of «The Forest Song» and the poem «Contra Spem Spero»? The woman on the banknote or the woman from the portrait under embroidered towels?

What if we say that Lesya Ukrainka was rebellious and feminist? And that she opposed Russian colonialism, she never was a «friend of the proletarians», and she fought for Ukrainian identity. And that Lesya Ukrainka was stylish, she traveled to European capitals, and visited the largest European theaters. Moreover, Lesya was a political activist, donated to the preservation and research of cultural heritage, and she was friends with the bohemians of her time. This woman created an original history — her story. That’s why we created a performance about Lesya Ukrainka and what you might not have known about her before — to learn more about ourselves as well.

Director — Lenka Udovički
Playwright — Oksana Danchuk
Set Designer — Oleksiy Khoroshko
Composer — Nigel Osborne
Lighting designer — Artur Temchenko
Costumes artist — Yulia Rybka
Choreographer — Viktor Ruban

Cast: Nazar Bonyashchuk, Zoriana Dybovska, Vasyl Kolisnyk, Sofia Leshyshak, Serhiy Lytvynenko, Tayisiya Malakhova, Isabel Merkulova, Anastasia Perets, Mykhailo Ponzel, Andriy Roschis, Tetyana Shelelio

With the support of: Parade-Fest

Date of premiere — May 5, 2023