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The Guardian
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Guardian
Someone Like Me review – moving through the unspeakable toll of war in Ukraine
In Pokémon lore, the distortion world is an evil parallel universe. For playwright Lyuba Ilnytska, it feels like an analogy for her native Ukraine under Russia's unprovoked assault. Much as she would like a giant Pokémon bird to stand over Kharkiv, allowing its residents a peaceful night's sleep, the reality is something more bleak. There is no escape from the terror. Working with choreographer Anatolii Sachivko from the city's Nafta theatre, performer and director Nina Khyzhna makes this theme concrete. As she presents it, the toll of life during wartime is not only psychological but also physical. Whether it is the bombardment of rockets and drones or the adjustment to prosthetics, air raid warnings and emergency Telegram groups, the impact hits the body. 'Movement is a must for a human being' is a phrase repeated in a dance-theatre performance that articulates the unspeakable experience of living in sleepless fear. She dances, sometimes with small neurotic movements, a woman under pressure, other times with muscular fury, a victim fighting back, taking us through a theatrical poem that evokes the everyday oppression of war. Based on interviews with residents, old and young, Someone Like Me is a collage of voices, unrelated to each other but unified in the face of terror and speaking as one. A child on tiptoes plays a game of civilians and snipers; an old-timer recalls the great famine of the 1930s and previous military conflicts; a woman tries to reassure her mother they will be safe when she can scarcely persuade herself. Nik Akorn's score clicks, rattles and unsettles, while Khyzhna moves with precision, mapping the streets of her beloved Kharkiv and embodying the trauma of her compatriots. It is a sad and serious creative response to a war that brings nothing but destruction and distress. At Assembly George Square Studios, Edinburgh, until 10 August All our Edinburgh festival reviews
Edinburgh Reporter
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Edinburgh Reporter
Fringe 2025
Someone Like Me is a physical solo performance by Nina Khyzhna of NAFTA Theatre from Kharkiv. The performance art show takes place from 30 July to 10 August at 18.40 at Studio Two George Square. On 3 and 8 August here will be discussions with the artistic team at AUGB Edinburgh on Royal Terrace. More details here. The performance tells the story of the journey of a disembodied person through the bodies of others. Nina learns the experiences of those who meet with fear day after day and find ways to resist it. Through the state of their muscles, through their movements, habits and feelings, the creature learns the experiences of people who have to be in danger caused by war. The physical condition and movements of these people reflect their stress, pain, sadness, new skills of fighting and survival, but also pleasure, humour, thirst. This show contains distressing themes or potential triggering these with strong language. 16+ Tickets here. Head of the project – Iryna Nirsha (Head of Performing Arts Programmes at the Ukrainian Institute) Directed and performed by Nina Khyzhna Playwright – Liuba Ilnytska Choreographer – Anatolii Sachivko Sound designer – Nick Acorne Costumes and scenic design – Anna Oramus Dressmaker – Vita Kushnyrevych Lighting designer – Oleksandr Chyzh Sound designer – Andrii Tretiak The project is organised by the Ukrainian Institute in collaboration with the British Council @uaBritish and the Cultural Diplomacy Foundation @cultural_diplomacy_foundation within the framework of the UK-Ukraine 100-Year Partnership. The Depute Lord Provost, Lezley Marion Cameron welcomed Nyna to Edinburgh Depute Lord Provost Lezley Marion Cameron with Ukrainian performer Nina Khyzhna of NAFTA Theatre from Kharkiv Ukrainian performer Nina Khyzhna of NAFTA Theatre Like this: Like Related
