The theater is a place of joyful encounters, filled with happy memories, where the cheerful laughter of children once echoed, along with new hopes and plans for the future… But the war brought all of that to a halt.
The defense of Mariupol became one of the most tragic chapters in the struggle for Ukraine’s independence. The large city found itself completely surrounded, and over 450,000 civilians were left without basic necessities—food, water, heat, and safe living conditions.
Residents who had already lost their homes, as well as the elderly and children, flocked to the Drama Theater in search of shelter. They believed that the theater would not be targeted, that everything around them was a terrible mistake, that there would be a “green corridor”… About a thousand Mariupol residents believed, supported, helped, and lived… Until that horrific sound of impending disaster… a disaster from which even the huge sign reading “Children,” written in Russian letters for enemy aircraft, could not protect them
The people who were lucky enough to escape alive from the ruined building were left with the memory of the apocalypse forever—mountains of rubble, people screaming under the debris, endless pain, despair, and horror…
March 16, 2022… A day of deep mourning, when each of us feels unspeakable pain: there is no statute of limitations for this crime, and it is impossible to forgive it.
To preserve the memory of these tragic events and ensure they are not forgotten, the Donetsk Regional State Administration and the Regional Military Administration, with the support of the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine, have initiated a peaceful event to mark the fourth anniversary of the Day of Remembrance for the Victims of the Airstrike in Mariupol. As part of this initiative, the word “Children” is displayed in front of the main entrances to theaters across Ukraine, and candles are lit—as a sign of mourning, remembrance, and solidarity.
The initiative brings together the country’s theater community every year. Last year’s event was joined by 79 theaters from all regions of Ukraine; this year, 87 theater companies have already shown their support. Representatives of the theater community from European countries and the United Kingdom have also joined the commemorative events, demonstrating their solidarity with the Ukrainian people.
During these same days, a joint international arts project is being implemented across cities in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. The Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theater (Mariupol) is presenting the storytelling performance “The Mariupol Drama” in London, Exeter, and Liverpool. The production is based on the real-life testimonies of people who found themselves at the epicenter of the tragic events and survived the bombings.
Today, this joint gesture of support reminds the world: tragedies must not be silenced, and the memory of the victims must unite people in their pursuit of peace, justice, and the protection of human life.
Mariupol remembers. Ukraine mourns. The world must know the truth.