The Light From Below: Stories from Ukrainian Basements

Following our recent Peace Readings: Fundraiser for Ukraine this April, Kibo Productions is proud to amplify Ukrainian voices with this double-bill of newly translated, world premiere plays The Light From Below: Stories from Ukrainian Basements at Barons Court Theatre.

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Each play tells the story of hope and heartache in times of war from the perspective of those living through it, created by a Ukrainian refugee-led group of theatre makers.

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Save the Light by Polina Pologenceva: The true story of a woman and her child fleeing the war in Ukraine in spring 2022. Told with humour and humanity, Polina’s story offers a unique insight into life as a refugee in a way not seen on the news.

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Fox, Dark as a Light Night by Andriy Bondarenko: a deeply poetic dreamplay about a lonely refugee from the 2014 war in Donbass, Igor, living in a basement and teaching Japanese online. He desperately looks for redemption and happiness, but struggles with traumatic visions from the past.

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The plays will be performed in English.

Cast: Shirley Both, Dean Coffey, Valeriia Poholsha, Ana Weaver

Directors: Anastazie Toros and Bogdana Orleanova

Dramaturg: Sharon Willems

Translation: John Farndon

Producer: Kibo Productions