Ukraine: The Latest SPECIAL: 'Theatre Under Fire' - fighting for the artistic soul of frontline Kharkiv
Dec 31, 2025
Anastasia Nusmeyan, the founder and director of Theatre Ocheret, leads a young theatre company in Kharkiv, creating performances amid war. She discusses the no-pay model of the theatre and its commitment to fundraising for the space. Anastasia highlights how Kharkiv's artistic legacy fuels their creativity during wartime and the importance of theatre as a refuge for audiences. She shares updates on renovations, upcoming productions, and the resilient spirit of Kharkiv's cultural community, inviting listeners to experience its vibrant art scene.
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Build Flexible, Immersive Performance Spaces
- Design flexible performance spaces that bring the audience into the action to deepen connection.
- Use movable stages and surrounding seating so each production can reshape the room.
Kharkiv's Persistent Theatrical Energy
- Kharkiv has a deep experimental-theatre legacy that survived despite the invasion.
- That legacy fuels a concentrated artistic energy which directors say they can't find elsewhere.
Theatre As Two Hours Of Relief
- A theatre-goer told Anastasia her performance gave two hours without thinking about the war.
- That reaction convinced Anastasia the theatre provided emotional respite for the audience.