Ukrainian theater to perform Shakespeare’s 'The Taming of the Shrew' at Ohrid Summer Festival
Ohrid, 1 August 2022 (MIA) – The Kyiv Academic Regional Music and Drama Theater P.K. Saksagansky will perform Shakespeare’s play The Taming of the Shrew, staged by director Viktoriia Shevchenko, at the Ohrid Summer Festival on Monday evening.
Part of the acting crew shared details about the play at Monday’s press conference, including how they work amidst war.
Vitaliy Tomnyk, head of the Culture, Nationality and Religion Department of the City Council of Bucha, says the war in Ukraine not only disrupts normal work of the cultural sector and destroys cultural heritage, but takes the lives of many civilians, including professional artists.
“Everyone defends their own front, military or volunteer, with their own weapons. To us, those weapons are cultural and artistic. The Ukrainian musical groups, singers, theater collectives throughout the world are holding humanitarian concerts to support the Ukrainian armed forces and the war victims. We can’t ask if there’s space for culture in this war, because this war is the fight for our Ukrainian culture,” he said.
Vladyslav Krasikov, who plays Petruchio, says it’s very hard, but they remain hopeful that their message will echo throughout the world.
“I’m sure the war will end in our favor and that we’ll elevate culture to a higher level,” Krasikov said.
He also added that The Taming of the Shrew is a very specific, unusual play. Director Shevchenko has changed almost everything in Shakespeare’s work and approached the play with very specific makeup, costumes, and the audacity to alter some lines.
“I believe all viewers will like this interpretation. There is a war in our country, the finale will be very interesting, and the audience can interpret it their own way,” Krasikov said.
Actress Marharyta Ovcharova believes the contemporary interpretation of Shakespeare will be interesting to many.
The selector of the drama selection of the Ohrid Summer Festival program, Sanja Arsovska, expressed satisfaction with being able to host a Ukrainian theater company in times of unbearable living conditions.
“I am happy that the Ukrainian actors will hear the sounds of applause instead of missiles, and that they’ll feel safe at the festival’s stage,” Arsovska said.
Director Natasha Popovikj rated the first half of this year’s festival as successful with a quality program and full auditoriums.
“People have been asking for extra tickets for most events, which to us is proof that the festival has offered quality and attractive content for a wider audience this year as well,” Popovikj emphasized.
Art enthusiasts have had the opportunity to enjoy 29 cultural events by global and local top artists who left their mark and raised the quality of the biggest musical and stage event in North Macedonia at several locations, such as the St. Sophia Church vestibule, inside the church itself, Dolni Saraj and the Cultural Center. dk/nn/
