Ukrainian theatre and anticolonial resistance
An exploration of Ukrainian theatre as a case study for theatre’s potential as a form of political engagement and cultural diplomacy.
The Euromaidan Revolution in 2014 and Russia's subsequent occupation of Crimea and incursion into Donbas marked a pivotal moment in Ukrainian history, igniting a wave of cultural and artistic activism across the country. Theatre became a vital medium through which artists sought to bear witness to the atrocities of war and reclaim cultural and historical narratives. From playwriting to documentary performance, Ukrainian theatre became a powerful platform for social commentary, historical reflection, collective healing and political engagement. Dr Molly Flynn’s research explored the evolution of Ukrainian theatre as a response to conflict, shining a light on its significance in the global arena.
Methodology and Adaptations
Originally proposed in 2019, the research project aimed to conduct field research in Ukraine that would use a combination of anthropological research and performance analysis to write a book on how theatre-makers were responding to the war in three different cities throughout the country. External factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic altered the course of the project initially, and when Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, the entire landscape of Ukrainian history, art, and culture changed overnight.
Building relationships and contextual understanding
The first part of the research project focused on developing a collaboration between Ukraine’s Theatre of Playwrights and the Royal Court Theatre in London, which later produced a staged reading of short texts written in the immediate wake of the full-scale invasion.
Responding to real-world events
After the start of Russia’s all-out war, Dr Flynn adapted the research project, focusing attention on immediate responses to the crisis. Her unique position as a key point of contact between Ukrainian and British theatre-makers meant she was able to focus her efforts into helping Ukrainian artists apply for funding, fellowships, and locate placements as they fled the war. The project also supported several readings of theatrical works staged in London, for example the commissioning of two new texts on the topic of women and war. These short plays were translated into English and premiered in a series of readings in London and Oxford with the playwrights in attendance.
Finding a focus on playwriting
Eventually the shape of the project evolved to delve deeper into Ukrainian playwriting. The research focused more on the play texts that came out of Ukraine’s booming new playwriting scene, working with the country’s leading writers on the Royal Court performance, and tracking the development of the pioneering Ukrainian theatre collective, the Theatre of Playwrights. Through textual analysis and engagement with leading Ukrainian theatre-makers, the study evolved to highlight the pivotal role of playwrights in shaping Ukraine's theatre revolution.
Outcomes and Impact
Written contributions
The research led to the publication of a peer-reviewed article on youth theatre, a forthcoming chapter on Ukrainian theatre as a form of anticolonial resistance, and the first anthology of full-length twenty-first-century Ukrainian plays in English translation.
Practice based collaborations
There were also numerous creative collaborations and practice-based outcomes. Together with the Royal Court Theatre the project produced a staged reading of short texts written by the Theatre of Playwrights collective in the days and weeks directly following the full-scale invasion. Dr Flynn also worked with Camden People’s Theatre and Ukrainian Institute London to host an evening of readings and a post-show discussion on Ukrainian literature. And, in addition to staged readings of the Women and War texts commissioned for the project, the two plays were also published in Birkbeck’s literary journal MiR Online.
Public profile building
The research amplified Ukrainian voices and brought their texts to international audiences and readerships. From podcast episodes, to national newspaper articles, to a translation initiative in partnership with Ukrainian Institute in Kyiv and the British Council, the project has promoted dialogue about Ukrainian theatre practice, and educated English-language readerships and UK audiences about the war and its significance within a broader European context.
How can this research inform change?
Analysing developments in Ukrainian arts activism and exploring Ukrainian theatre as a case study for theatre’s potential as a form of political engagement and cultural diplomacy is highly relevant to western artists, activists, and policymakers.
At a time when comprehension of Ukraine’s place within European culture is not only a question of intellectual and artistic curiosity but also an urgent matter of global security, this research provides international readerships access to the most innovative, politically engaged theatre on the world stage today.
Through analysis of Ukrainian theatre as a form of cultural diplomacy and anticolonial resistance, this research explores Ukrainian theatre as a case study for theatre’s potential as a form of arts activism and a space for social change. Many people only began thinking about Ukraine’s place within European history and politics on the 24 of February 2022, although the country has consistently played a pivotal role in Europe’s most important 20th and 21st century historical and cultural moments, which this project sought to capture and amplify. There is a lot to learn from Ukraine and Ukrainians, and new approaches to socially engaged theatre is one of them.
Fact finder
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Original project title: Theatre in Ukraine after the Euromaidan revolution
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Project funding: £50,231
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Funder: Leverhulme Trust
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Dates of research: April 2021 – October 2023
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People and Partners: Theatre of Playwrights (Kyiv), The Royal Court (London), Ukrainian Institute (Kyiv), Camden People’s Theatre (London), Ukrainian Institute London, Anastasiia Kosodii, Kateryna Penkova, Natalka Vorozhbyt.
“At a time when comprehension of Ukraine’s place within European culture is not only a question of intellectual and artistic curiosity but also an urgent matter of global security, this research provides international readerships access to the most innovative, politically engaged theatre on the world stage today.”
