After being forced to evacuate and then restarting in Uzhhorod, the Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theater (Mariupol) not only kept its creative team together but also turned the stage into a space for international dialogue. For more than three years, it has been consistently carrying out an important mission — to use art to convey to the world the truth about the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine, about destroyed cities, shattered lives, and the indomitable spirit of Ukraine.
In February this year, the play Mariupol Drama was performed in the Italian cities of Savona, Genoa, and Brescia. These performances were not just theatrical events, but deeply emotional encounters, where the stage became a place of confession and mutual understanding. The production tells the story of the tragedy of Mariupol through personal stories, human memory, and inner strength — without pathos, but with great dignity.
Each time the actors take the stage, they bear witness to those who survived the war, who lost their homes but did not lose their voices. Through art, the theater speaks of pain and hope, of loss and faith in recovery. It is a lively conversation with a European audience that listens with its heart.
The meetings after the performances were particularly touching. Italian viewers approached the actors, hugged them, thanked them for their openness, and expressed words of support and solidarity with Ukraine. These sincere gestures demonstrate the true power of cultural diplomacy, which unites peoples without interpreters or formal protocols.
We express our deep gratitude to Italy for its warm welcome, openness, and support. At a time when truth needs protection no less than borders, such artistic events become an important part of shared European responsibility.
Our theater today is not just a creative collective. It is the voice of a city waiting to return home. It is the voice of a country that is fighting. And this voice sounds confident, dignified, and genuine in Europe.