Latest news with #YorkInternationalShakespeareFestival
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'The audience cried hearing Ukrainian songs at our show'
When Dara Klymenko arrived in Yorkshire after escaping the war in Ukraine she had no idea whether she'd have to give up her love for the theatre. The 26-year-old professional actress moved in with a host family in Malton in 2022 and began working at a nursery, but found she "couldn't live" without the creative arts. Now Ms Klymenko is the founder and director of DSpace, a Ukrainian theatre group which performed at this year's York International Shakespeare Festival. "I was amazed at how many people were interested. The main goal is to create a safe and inspiring space for self-expression. I call it a space of inspiration," she said. DSpace members span a wide range of ages - from primary school children to adults - and all are Ukrainians. Ms Klymenko had previously taught drama workshops to children, and decided to launch a similar venture in York, teaching classes in her native language. She said she was "amazed" by the uptake and by the amount of Ukrainian nationals living around her, but struggled to find a suitable venue to host the classes. Around the same time, she was invited to take part in Working Title, a project which united actors from national theatre companies in Ukraine with UK artist Through this, she was introduced to David Richmond, senior lecturer of drama and theatre at York St John University, who offered a free space to rehearse at the city centre campus. Mr Richmond said: "The university has a policy of social justice and the creative arts have led on that for many years. "We want to the support the Ukrainian community's creativity and expression and feeling of security and belonging. "Dara is doing such good work in her community and in theatre so it seemed [providing space was] the ideal thing we could do to help, the ideal thing they need which is space and time to tell their stories in the way they want to tell them." The group rehearses for three hours each Monday evening and members travel from York, Selby and the surrounding area to attend. While some members are beginners, others have previous acting experience, often from their life in Ukraine before the war. Sergi, 25, had completed his theatre degree at university and had started to secure some jobs before he moved to the UK. He explained that finding a theatre company that spoke his native language was important as it helped him find common interest in shared experiences. "Because we are all people from one country, we have the same traditions, the same culture so it's easy to communicate so I'm happy to do this with Ukrainian people," he said. "Sometimes it's difficult because of language. Most projects are looking for native speakers. But the York Shakespeare Festival was a new experience for me in theatre, and I was happy in the same way to act with Ukrainian and English people, and it was easy to connect." The play DSpace performed at the festival was called There's No Clock in The Forest, an original blend of Shakespeare texts and the Ukrainian play Mavka (the Forest Song). "For us it was a huge success – we had lots of audience members, from Ukraine and also from England as well," Ms Klymenko explained. "Some people from the audience told me they started crying during the performance. Not because of the show but because they heard Ukrainian language, Ukrainian songs and it was so sensitive for them." The theatre group will be tackling another deeply personal project next - a new play, partially inspired by the Hollywood film La La Land, written by Ms Klymenko herself. Her hope is that the theme can resonate, particularly with Ukrainian people, "to never give up" on their dreams. "It was very important to me when I created [DSpace] that it was a safe space – it's about mental health as well, a place to express your feelings," she added. "I realised I've got to keep doing this, because I need it, my team need it and the audience needs it." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. York St John University
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
'The audience cried hearing Ukrainian songs at our show'
When Dara Klymenko arrived in Yorkshire after escaping the war in Ukraine she had no idea whether she'd have to give up her love for the theatre. The 26-year-old professional actress moved in with a host family in Malton in 2022 and began working at a nursery, but found she "couldn't live" without the creative arts. Now Ms Klymenko is the founder and director of DSpace, a Ukrainian theatre group which performed at this year's York International Shakespeare Festival. "I was amazed at how many people were interested. The main goal is to create a safe and inspiring space for self-expression. I call it a space of inspiration," she said. DSpace members span a wide range of ages - from primary school children to adults - and all are Ukrainians. Ms Klymenko had previously taught drama workshops to children, and decided to launch a similar venture in York, teaching classes in her native language. She said she was "amazed" by the uptake and by the amount of Ukrainian nationals living around her, but struggled to find a suitable venue to host the classes. Around the same time, she was invited to take part in Working Title, a project which united actors from national theatre companies in Ukraine with UK artist Through this, she was introduced to David Richmond, senior lecturer of drama and theatre at York St John University, who offered a free space to rehearse at the city centre campus. Mr Richmond said: "The university has a policy of social justice and the creative arts have led on that for many years. "We want to the support the Ukrainian community's creativity and expression and feeling of security and belonging. "Dara is doing such good work in her community and in theatre so it seemed [providing space was] the ideal thing we could do to help, the ideal thing they need which is space and time to tell their stories in the way they want to tell them." The group rehearses for three hours each Monday evening and members travel from York, Selby and the surrounding area to attend. While some members are beginners, others have previous acting experience, often from their life in Ukraine before the war. Sergi, 25, had completed his theatre degree at university and had started to secure some jobs before he moved to the UK. He explained that finding a theatre company that spoke his native language was important as it helped him find common interest in shared experiences. "Because we are all people from one country, we have the same traditions, the same culture so it's easy to communicate so I'm happy to do this with Ukrainian people," he said. "Sometimes it's difficult because of language. Most projects are looking for native speakers. But the York Shakespeare Festival was a new experience for me in theatre, and I was happy in the same way to act with Ukrainian and English people, and it was easy to connect." The play DSpace performed at the festival was called There's No Clock in The Forest, an original blend of Shakespeare texts and the Ukrainian play Mavka (the Forest Song). "For us it was a huge success – we had lots of audience members, from Ukraine and also from England as well," Ms Klymenko explained. "Some people from the audience told me they started crying during the performance. Not because of the show but because they heard Ukrainian language, Ukrainian songs and it was so sensitive for them." The theatre group will be tackling another deeply personal project next - a new play, partially inspired by the Hollywood film La La Land, written by Ms Klymenko herself. Her hope is that the theme can resonate, particularly with Ukrainian people, "to never give up" on their dreams. "It was very important to me when I created [DSpace] that it was a safe space – it's about mental health as well, a place to express your feelings," she added. "I realised I've got to keep doing this, because I need it, my team need it and the audience needs it." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. York St John University
Yahoo
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ukraine war highlighted at Shakespeare festival
A play by a Ukrainian writer exploring the psychological impact of war is to be given its world premiere at the York International Shakespeare Festival, as it celebrates its 10th anniversary. Organisers said Codename Othello, by Olga Annenko, was one of the most "highly anticipated" events of this year's festival. Annenko said the work, inspired by Shakespeare's Othello, used themes of identity, and trauma, to talk about "war and some of its hidden manifestations". A festival spokesperson said the play was discovered in its earliest stages by the festival's international adviser Prof Nicoleta Cinpoeş who encouraged Annenko to finish the script. Annenko said the project was "an opportunity to talk about psychological disorders caused by warfare". "The complexity of the ordinary world, with its tricks, makes the life of a person who has returned from war impossible and unhappy," she said. Officials said the festival would also see the world premiere of a performance entitled There's No Clock in the Forest, by displaced people currently living in York. They said the performance would blend the Ukrainian play Mavka (The Forest Song), with texts from Shakespeare, which celebrated the natural world "and reflected on exile, mythology, and environmental change". Festival director Philip Parr said: "These are certainly strange times. War, corruption, moral dilemma. "The responsibility of theatre makers in our times is no different from that of Shakespeare: to tell the stories of the time and place, and to reflect the world around us." He added: "Shakespeare belongs to the world, and this year, that global conversation feels more vital than ever." The festival runs from 22 April to 4 May. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Special permission for Ukrainian actors to perform York International Shakespeare Festival
BBC News
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Ukraine war highlighted at York Shakespeare festival
A play by a Ukrainian writer exploring the psychological impact of war is to be given its world premiere at the York International Shakespeare Festival, as it celebrates its 10th said Codename Othello, by Olga Annenko, was one of the most "highly anticipated" events of this year's said the work, inspired by Shakespeare's Othello, used themes of identity, and trauma, to talk about "war and some of its hidden manifestations".A festival spokesperson said the play was discovered in its earliest stages by the festival's international adviser Prof Nicoleta Cinpoeş who encouraged Annenko to finish the script. Annenko said the project was "an opportunity to talk about psychological disorders caused by warfare"."The complexity of the ordinary world, with its tricks, makes the life of a person who has returned from war impossible and unhappy," she said the festival would also see the world premiere of a performance entitled There's No Clock in the Forest, by displaced people currently living in said the performance would blend the Ukrainian play Mavka (The Forest Song), with texts from Shakespeare, which celebrated the natural world "and reflected on exile, mythology, and environmental change".Festival director Philip Parr said: "These are certainly strange times. War, corruption, moral dilemma. "The responsibility of theatre makers in our times is no different from that of Shakespeare: to tell the stories of the time and place, and to reflect the world around us."He added: "Shakespeare belongs to the world, and this year, that global conversation feels more vital than ever."The festival runs from 22 April to 4 May. Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
Yahoo
18-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Tudor dance workshop invites you to learn steps from Shakespeare's era
A Tudor dance workshop is inviting people to learn steps from Shakespeare's era. The workshop, led by historical dance teacher Lottie Adcock, will take place at York St John University on Sunday, April 27, at 2pm, as part of the York International Shakespeare Festival. Ms Adcock has been performing historical dance for more than 15 years and teaches regular Dance the Past workshops in York and the surrounding areas. Her repertoire spans hundreds of years, from medieval dance to dances of the early 20th century. The Scotch Jig, the Cinquepace, the Galliard, and the occasionally contentious Lavolta are among the dances to be taught. No prior dancing experience is required and there is no need to bring a dancing partner. Period costumes are also not required, with attendees simply advised to wear comfortable shoes and bring water. The full York International Shakespeare Festival programme is available at
