Latest news with #YorkStJohnUniversity
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
BBC News
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BBC News
DSpace: The Ukrainian theatre company bringing community to the fore
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 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 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 Klymenko had previously taught drama workshops to children, and decided to launch a similar venture in York, teaching classes in her native 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 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 artistThrough 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 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 some members are beginners, others have previous acting experience, often from their life in Ukraine before the 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 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.
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Children to retell Gruffalo story in mix of four languages
The Community Language School at York St John University has been granted permission by the publishers of The Gruffalo to stage a multilingual reading of the well-known children's story. The book was originally written by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler, and was published by Macmillan's Children's Books, which has granted permission for the reading. Four children will retell the tale in a mix of English, Japanese, Italian, and Spanish. The Community Language School, which opened in 2022, offers free classes in multiple languages. Its team has now supported more than a hundred children with language learning, according to a spokesperson. The Community Language School aims to foster a love of languages and to keep heritage languages alive amongst younger generations. Dr Indu Meddegama, director and co-founder of the Community Language School, said: "Julia Donaldson is a masterful writer, and her stories have been translated into many languages, so we couldn't think of a better way to showcase language learning at the school. "With direction and guidance from our postgraduate student and performing arts practitioner, Emily Howarth, the children have brought this story to life in a truly multilingual and multicultural way. "My thanks to Macmillan Children's books for supporting this work, which promises to be a fantastic way to mark the end of a third year of the school. "I'm so proud of all our young people for taking part in such a memorable occasion." Mencia, Vega, and Emilia are three of the four children who will bring the exploits of the Gruffalo, mouse, fox, owl, and snake to life. Mencia, aged 13, said: "The best of it all is getting to perform with my Spanish, getting to mix two of my favourite things together, and I feel like it has helped me feel closer to the language." Vega, aged 10, said: "It's a fun way to develop my Spanish. "It's an interesting way to connect with other languages. "I'm really enjoying it and I am meeting lots of new friends." Emilia, aged 9, said: "I love learning Italian at the Community Language School, although sometimes it is a bit hard to go back to 'school!' "I especially like the play, The Gruffalo, and although I have a small role, I found out how much I like acting, so much so that I have been asking my mum to enrol me in a drama class." The Community Language School will present the multilingual reading of The Gruffalo on Saturday, May 31, at 3pm at the York St John Creative Centre. The audience will be composed of parents, carers, and Community Language School families. More information about the Community Language School is available at
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Upcoming Ebor Lecture to concern abuse in religious institutions
A lecture on abuse within religious institutions is set to take place later this month. The Centre for Religion in Society at York St John University has announced the latest event in the Ebor Lecture series. The lecture is entitled From Silencing to Strength: Addressing Spiritual Abuse and Abuses of Power. The lecture will be delivered by safeguarding expert Professor Lisa Oakley, on Wednesday, May 21, from 7pm to 9pm, at York Minster. The event comes in the wake of what a spokesperson described as "renewed public attention to issues of abuse and safeguarding within religious institutions." It will be the first Ebor Lecture to be held at York Minster since the post-Covid relaunch of the series. There will be a free drinks reception following the lecture for attendees to continue the conversation over refreshments. Professor Oakley, of the University of Chester, conducts research into safeguarding in fath contexts. She has contributed to the Independent Inquiry into Child Sexual Abuse, and is chair of the British Psychological Society's Safeguarding Advisory Group. Professor Oakley said: "Disseminating the accounts of spiritual abuse that victim-survivors have shared with me has been essential to breaking the silence in this area. "I am so grateful to everyone who has taken part in our research studies and shared personally over the years; this is emotionally costly, and that cost should not be underestimated. "Early work that was shared was not always met with a receptive response. "There was some lack of understanding and sometimes a lack of willingness to accept that the experiences described were real, harmful, and happening in contexts that might be assumed to be safe. "Sometimes, there was concern that talking about this would damage faith institutions and the reputation of faith itself. "Working towards acknowledgment and acceptance has been challenging, and at times there has been strong push back, and there is further work to do. "Still, we must acknowledge the harm that has been experienced, respond appropriately, and work towards prevention in the future. " Tickets are free but booking is essential via The lecture will also be recorded and made available to watch online at
