Culture

In wartime Ukraine, a shift is unfolding behind the curtains of the country’s theaters. As male actors are mobilized to the front, women are stepping into their roles. On stage and off, they are reimagining not only their characters, but their place in a society reshaped by Russia’s invasion.

From May 1 to May 14, 2025, the House of Lucie in Budapest will host an experimental and deeply human exhibition titled Through Young Eyes: The War They See . Unlike any other visual documentation of Ukraine’s ongoing war, this collection presents it through the eyes of its youngest witnesses—Ukrainian children.

“How do you fit your entire life in a suitcase?” actress Ismenia Mendes asks, sitting center stage. You might recognize her from Orange Is the New Black , but tonight, she’s not just playing a role—she’s giving voice to someone else’s reality. The New York City’s West End Theatre stage glows red and blue. The performers sit with scripts in hand. This is a Diary of War reading.

Ukraine’s Kobzars were once the nation’s living memory—blind troubadours who sang of war, loss, and resilience. Nearly erased by Soviet purges, their tradition endures, echoing through time.

As the final punters settled into their seats in a room full of giddy excitement, comedy host Oleksandr Kachura made an announcement. “Remember, we are the Underground Standup in name and function. If there happen to be any air raid alerts, our evening won’t be interrupted.”

In Kharkiv, a city battered by relentless Russian attacks, artists, curators, and performers refuse to leave their home. They won’t let the war silence them. Their studios double as bomb shelters, their exhibitions continue even amid blackouts, and their theaters adapt to missile alerts.