The aftermath of Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine is reflected in a compelling anthology featuring 20 plays penned by Ukrainian playwrights. These works offer poignant and introspective accounts of the war, delving into its most personal and heartfelt aspects. Expertly compiled and edited by John Freedman, the anthology, titled "A Dictionary of Emotions in a Time of War: 20 Short Works by Ukrainian Playwrights", is a must-read for anyone seeking to gain a deeper understanding of the situation in Ukraine and its ramifications.
The volume features contributions from 18 playwrights hailing from various regions across Ukraine. These include Pavlo Arie, Ihor Bilyts, Natalia Blok, Andriy Bondarenko, Vitaliy Chenskiy, Julia Gonchar, Oksana Grytsenko, Olena Hapieieva, Iryna Harets, Maksym Kurochkin, Tetiana Kytsenko, Lena Lagushonkova, Yevhen Markovskiy, Olha Maciupa, Kateryna Penkova, Oksana Savchenko, Liudmyla Tymoshenko, Elena Astasieva, and Natalka Vorozhbyt.
This volume comprises plays that tap into the most intense and revealing emotions associated with war. The majority of the works featured in "A Dictionary of Emotions in a Time of War" originated from the Worldwide Ukrainian Play Readings Project and the Theater of Playwrights in Kyiv, with 17 pieces written in March 2022, two in late June, and one completed in November. These plays have been performed and read in various locations worldwide. By bringing them together in a single translated publication, this book provides an opportunity to reach new audiences and readers. Additionally, these works serve as a testament to the burgeoning theatre scene in Kyiv, reflecting and contributing to its exciting evolution.
Maksym Kurochkin, a highly regarded Ukrainian dramatist, had returned to Kyiv in the years leading up to March 2022 with the aim of establishing a new Theatre of Playwrights that would focus exclusively on Ukrainian productions. Although the war disrupted his plans, he remained undaunted. In fact, numerous plays included in this volume were read aloud during a marathon session held on June 24 in the unfinished basement of the theatre, an event that was met with resounding success.
So far, the project has amassed an impressive collection of 129 plays authored by over 45 Ukrainian writers, which continue to be added to an ever-growing database. In addition, the project has facilitated over 295 readings across 29 different countries, spanning 19 different languages, and has reached an audience of more than 12,000 people.
These plays provide a response to the lived experiences of Ukrainians. Thus, in Iryna Harets's play "Planting an Apple Tree," the protagonist endeavours to maintain a sense of normalcy despite the chaos around her. Living in the countryside, she grapples with guilt over the bombings her sister is enduring in Kharkiv, as well as the ones that have devastated her family's home in Kyiv. Despite the dire circumstances across Ukraine, with many regions on the brink of humanitarian crises due to a lack of basic necessities, she refuses to succumb to despair. Instead, she takes action by planting an apple tree, a symbolic gesture of love and humanity that serves as a counterpoint to the prevailing rage and hatred.