A Dictionary of Emotions in War Time

A Dictionary of Emotions in Wartime by Olena Astasieva details the true experience of a woman from Kherson, in the first days of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This powerful and moving production is co-directed by Diana Budiachenko, a theatre director from Odesa, Ukraine, and Karmen McNamara, a local theatre director of Ukrainian descent. It stars Ukrainian refugees Anastasiia Konstantynova and Kseniia Sinelikova, and features original music by Borys Koniukhov and Julia Frait.

Here Magazine describes the show as a “raw and incisive account of the range of emotions [Olena] and her friends experienced,” and that it “brings the Invasion of Ukraine into sharp and personal focus.”

The story begins February 24, 2022, when Russia launches a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Olena, like so many others in Ukraine, must decide how to survive the war and face what she learns about her friends, family and herself, as they all struggle to come to terms with their new reality.

All proceeds from the production go to supporting Ukrainians on Vancouver Island.

“When a local refugee brought me Olena’s script in the summer of 2023, I knew this was a story that needed to be told. The story is not an easy story to hear – nor should it be,” explains McNamara. “The more true stories we tell, the less power propaganda and disinformation have.”

A Dictionary of Emotions in Wartime runs at Metro Studio May 3-11, 2024.
The world premiere of the show ran January 18-21, 2024.

Details:

· Location: Metro Studio, 1411 Quadra St.
· Evening shows at 7:30pm; Matinees at 2:00pm
· The show runs approximately 80 minutes with no intermission
· Tickets are on sale now: https://t.ly/zkTzZ