The performance of Dziady. Photo: ICCC
As part of the Via Carpatia 2024 International Forum for Central and Eastern Europe, a large-scale performance of Dziady based on the poem by Adam Mickiewicz was staged for the first time at the National Music Academy in Kyiv. The play was interpreted by Polish director Maja Kleczewska, who staged it together with the Ivan Franko National Drama Theatre in Ivano-Frankivsk under the direction of Rostyslav Derzhypilskyi.
The Minister of Culture and Strategic Communications Mykola Tochytskyi emphasised the importance of this performance as a symbol of unity between Ukraine and Poland. According to him, this project is a reminder of the joint struggle for freedom, which is important both today and 200 years ago, when Mickiewicz wrote his poem addressing the fight against Russian aggression.
The play was highly praised in Poland after its premiere in 2023, becoming one of the main theatre events of the year. It was even shortlisted for the 2024 GRA Award for the best play at the intersection of theatre genres. The director emphasised that Dziady is an extremely important work for Poles, and that it gains new depth through collaboration with Ukrainians.
The plot of the play refers to the common history of the struggle of Ukrainians and Poles, their suffering under the yoke of Russian occupation, and calls for the fight for freedom without hiding from the war. The artistic director of the theatre, Rostyslav Derzhypilskyi, noted that this work, written in 1822, remains relevant today, as it reveals the essence of imperial aggression, which does not change over time.
In addition to classic scenes, the play included contemporary elements that made it even more resonant. In particular, there was a scene based on an event at the Cannes Film Festival, where Ukrainian blogger Ilona Chernobay appeared on the red carpet covered in blood to protest against the support of Russian culture, which is associated with violence and murder in Ukraine.
Mykola Kniazhytskyi, Member of Parliament of Ukraine, noted that there is a deep understanding and common goal between the Poles who fought for their independence and the Ukrainians who are now fighting for theirs. “Russia has always been a universal evil and remains so today,” he stressed.
This production was another important milestone in the cultural exchange between Ukraine and Poland, confirming the importance of support in times of war and expressing a common desire for freedom and independence.
