On the theatre stage, a polyphonic choir rises up against the violence of war. Under the direction of Polish director Marta Górnicka, Ukrainian, Polish and Belarusian women and children aged between 9 and 71 transform their experiences of war into a collective work of art. The performers - many of them refugees from Mariupol, Kyiv, Irpin and Kharkiv - combine traditional Ukrainian songs with nursery rhymes, magic spells and political statements to create a powerful whole.

The piece begins with a Shchedrivka, a traditional Ukrainian song that takes on a new meaning in the context of war. At a time when Ukraine is fighting for its survival, Górnicka draws on these old forms to counter the rituals of war violence against women and civilians. The special feature of the performance lies in the reversal of the usual war narrative: instead of staging women as victims, it places them at the centre of the action.

An artist talk with Marta Górnicka will take place at 6 pm. 
The guest performance will be followed by the award ceremony of the ITI (International Theatre Institute). The laudation
for Marta Górnicka will be held by Prof. Dr em. Ulrike Haß from the Ruhr University Bochum.