The text of the young Ukrainian writer Anastasiia Kosodii is a strong emotional statement that has a post-dramatic form and at the same time has deep roots in the Ukrainian cultural tradition. Theatre director Jana Svobodová chose a very modest staging format so the stories could be perceived on their own. Part of the production is the projection of the entire original unchanged text.
Five performers, each from a different European country, react to the text with movement, singing and music. The empty space is thus filled with emotions that are transferred to the audience. After the premiere at the Akcent festival, the audience remained in the auditorium for long minutes in silence and meditation.

Reflections of the performers

I do not know how to write about war - words have a short expiration date - I feel very much familiar with the lines of Anastasiia Kosodii here. None of us knew how to write about it. How would you translate all the terror and all your spectrum of feelings towards it into a few words, into a certain form? 
Director of the show Jana Svobodova, offered us a safe space to experiment and search for the accurate words, movement, sound. I guess, now it is one of the righteousness methods to work with the difficult topic of war that is still ongoing.
Maria Kosiychuk, Lviv, Ukraine

The experience of working with Jana and internationl group of other performers  is very special to me. To be able to create a performance together about the war in Ukraine is urgent and important, while at the same time the way we work with the beautiful text is very freeing and hopeful.
For me, coming from the Netherlands, I often take my freedom for granted. Working on this project has made me very aware that culture, home and safety aren't self-evident.
Rosa Berman, Arnhem, Nederlands

Jana Svobodová is such a trustworthy pair of hands to guide this work as she stays as far as possible from the self-congratulatory and guides others to do so. The work is important but making it does not make us more important. The ethics at the heart of her approach guide the work, and for that reason I have great peace of mind in collaborating with her and trust that those whose stories we tell are held with dignity, and equally that our audience are cared for. With Jana, I know that everyone in the room is seen and each contribution or idea is listened to. To balance such ensemble spirit with clear direction is a gift, and I am so grateful to have this opportunity. 
Amanda Doherty, Belfast, Nothern Ireland

Credits

Text: Anastasiia Kosodii 
Scenic concept and direction: Jana Svobodová 
Dramaturgy: Ondřej Hrab
Translation: Miroslav Tomek
Music: Lotta Karlsson 
Sound design: Jan Sedláček 
Lighting design: Pavel Kotlík 
Assistant director, production: Romana Sekáčová 
Co-created and starring: Rosa Berman, Amanda Doherty, Lotta Karlsson, Maria Kosiychuk and Sofia Velez. 

Premieres: March 17 & 18, 2023, Archa Theatre, Prague
 
The production of the Archa Theatre was created in cooperation with the Jam Factory center, Lviv, Ukraine as part of the Artists in War international project.

Jam Factory Art Center 
https://jamfactory.ua/

Вісім коротких композицій про життя українців для західної аудиторії 

Текст української молодої письменниці Анастасії Косодій є сильним емоційним свідченням, викладеним у пост-драматичну форму і, разом з тим, є глибоко закорінений в українську культурну традицію. Режисерка Яна Свободова обрала дуже обережний формат інсценування, де кожна історія може жити самостійно. 

П’ять перформерів з різних країн зробили спробу перекласти цей текст мовою руху, музики і голосу. Таким чином, порожній простір наповнюється емоціями, що передаються глядачам. Після прем’єри на фестивалі AKCENT, аудиторія на декілька хвилин залишилась в тиші та медитації.  

Текст: Анастасія Косодій 
Сценічна концепція та режисура: Яна Свободова 
Музика: Лотта Карлсон 
Звукове оформлення: Ян Седлачек
Дизайн світла: Павло Котлік 
Асистування режисера, постановка: Романа Секачова 
В головних ролях та співавторстві: Роза Берман, Аманда Догерті, Лотта Карлсон, Марія Косійчук та Софія Велес. 

Прем'єра: 17 та 18 березня 2023 року, театр Archa, Прага 

Постановка театру «Archa» створена у співпраці з Львівським мистецьким центром «Jam Factory» в рамках міжнародного проекту «Artists in War».