Iuliia Bentia

Ukrainian theatre has changed since the Revolution of Dignity and, more recently, the full-scale Russian invasion. These changes concern both the functioning of the theatre sector and the themes addressed by productions created over the past decade. They include the growth of independent, socially engaged initiatives; the emergence of a new generation of directors and the intergenerational tensions accompanying this shift; changes in theatrical vocabulary; and transformations in theatrical forms and genres. Ukrainian theatre has also witnessed new approaches to contemporary dance, productions for young audiences, musical performances, and the classical repertoire. At the same time, international exchange among Ukrainian theatre-makers has intensified, both within Ukraine and abroad. Behind these visible changes lie deeper shifts that my research project will explore: the specific characteristics of documentary, participatory, and activist theatre in Ukraine; the performative turn, media-hybrid practices, and processes of decolonization; the interaction between postdramatic practices and the traditions of the repertory stage; and the ways theatre reflects on the Russo–Ukrainian War. The project will combine performance analysis, comparative study of Ukrainian and international theatrical practices, and first-hand experience of theatre productions across Ukraine, aiming to offer a multifaceted history of Ukrainian theatre since the Revolution of Dignity.