KRYLA Foundation Cherson: Margarita a medvede UA
FRIDAY 3:15 p.m. / ALBATROS FAMILY PARK
KRYLA Foundation and Kherson Theatre to present Margarita and the Bears at Pohoda
Pohoda will welcome a powerful theatre production from Ukraine. KRYLA Foundation, in partnership with the Kherson Regional Academic Music and Drama Theatre named after Mykola Kulish, will present Margarita and the Bears, a touching story about losing one's home, resilience and finding hope.
Based on a play by Ukrainian playwright Iryna Feofanova, the production follows eight-year-old Margarita, who is forced to leave her hometown of Nova Kakhovka with her mother after the destruction of the Kakhovka Dam. In her new home in Przemyśl, Poland, she encounters the city's bronze bears, which come to life at night and help her navigate loss, change and hope for the future.
One of the production's most remarkable features is its cast. The only professional performer is Kherson Theatre actress Olga Krylova, while the roles of Margarita and the bears are played by children from the Kherson region selected through special auditions. Through theatre, these children have found a way to reflect on and process their own experiences of living through war.
The production is directed by Iryna Korolova, Honoured Artist of Ukraine. Set design is by Nataliia Rydvanetska, costumes by Oleksandra Knyha, and music by Oleksii Ponomariov, Honoured Artist of Ukraine.
The project also marked the revival of the children's theatre studio at the Kherson Theatre, now called KRYLA, in honour of the foundation that initiated and supported its renewal.
Following its premiere, Margarita and the Bears was presented at several theatre festivals across Ukraine, where it received enthusiastic responses from audiences and theatre professionals alike.
In addition to the performance, KRYLA Foundation will also present an interactive artistic programme at Pohoda featuring young performers from the Kherson region. Visitors can look forward to live music, vocal performances, an interactive dance workshop and creative arts activities.