reading Kurbas

According to some, the legendary Ukrainian director Les Kurbas’s career began on the stage of the Ukrainian House in Przemyśl. That was some one hundred years ago. Today, the house hosts Ukrainian artists doing their residencies here, for whom Kurbas is a great teacher. The Kharkiv theatre troupe Publitsyst brought with them a book titled The Philosophy of Theatre, which contains all popular works by Kurbas, as well as materials documenting the inner workings of his theatre, Berezil. On the Ukrainian House stage, the troupe intends to present Kurbas as a young actor to Kurbas the great theatre reformer.

Performative reading creatively reinterprets the biography of the brilliant director, who died at the hands of Soviet oppressors. We believe that this art project is especially important within the context of Ukraine’s defence against Russia, the successor to the USSR. We remember that, to a significant extent, the war is being fought for our culture and identity.

Publitsyst is a popular independent theatre from Kharkiv, a space for theatre experiments, a centre for alternative creative education and an active participant in the city’s cultural landscape. Established in 1977 as a student troupe, Publitsyst has since 1983 been gradually transformed by director Hanna Onyshchenko into an art and poetry theatre, and since 2013, into a sociopolitical theatre under the guidance of director Kostiantyn Vasyukov.

Director Kostiantyn Vasyukov, actresses Nina Batovska and Kateryna Vasyukova, artist Yulia Alimova and composer Oleksandra Malatskovska will be presenting their works during their residency at the Ukrainian House.

The performative readings will be taking place throughout the day, from 12 pm on 17 August to 12 pm on 18 August, in the theatre room of the Ukrainian House in Przemyśl. No intervals.

 

That’s them: Kostia, Kateryna, Yuliana and Nina. Tomorrow at noon sharp, they will commence their uninterrupted, 24-hour performative reading of the works of the brilliant Ukrainian director, actor and theatrologist – Les Kurbas.

We trawled the chronicle of the Ukrainian House and found mentions that, in 1912, a young Kurbas performed in Przemyśl, most likely on our stage. This inspired the actresses and actor of the Kharkiv-based Publitsyst troupe to confront the spirit of young Kurbas with the mature reflections found in his various texts on theatre.

This event will not only illustrate Kurbas’s genius. It will also serve as a thread connecting two very distant cities – Przemyśl and Kharkiv. But perhaps they are not so distant, after all?

Drop by, even for just a moment, between tomorrow and Friday, from 12 pm to 12 pm, and listen to the voice of Kurbas through the voices of modern Ukrainian artists. This way, you can support Ukrainian culture and Ukraine itself – which celebrates its 32nd anniversary of regaining independence in just a few days.

And if you’re unable to visit Przemyśl or the Ukrainian House – watch us online. 24 hours with no intervals!