Overview

Charting twelve turbulent years of modern Ukrainian history, from the Maidan protests of 2014 to Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022 and beyond, Ukraine Unbroken is a powerful cycle of short plays about courage, truth and survival in the face of an existential threat. Across five gripping plays by some of today's most acclaimed British and Ukrainian writers, this volume explores the resistance and resilience of a nation determined to remain free. Always by Jonathan Myerson depicts a married couple held hostage in a hotel in 2014 as their son protests in Maidan Square below. Five Day War by David Edgar takes a darkly comic and sinister look at the ambition and delusion of Russia's 2022 'Special Military Operation', the invasion that was 'not an invasion'. Three Mates by Natalka Vorozhbyt, translated by Sasha Dugdale, explores the shame of survival in a darkly humorous confession from a Ukrainian man hiding from conscription. Wretched Things by David Greig tells the story of Ukrainian front-line troops who have captured a wounded soldier and must decide whether to risk their own lives to save his. Taken by Cat Goscovitch confronts the harrowing reality of the twenty thousand Ukrainian children stolen by Russia, following one mother's search for her daughter. This collection includes a foreword from Nicolas Kent, who conceived and directed the project at Arcola Theatre, London, in 2026. He produced and directed the Olivier Award-nominated play cycle The Great Game – Afghanistan at the Tricycle Theatre, London, where he was Artistic Director.

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9781839045639

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Reviews

'Sobering facts and intriguing moral dilemmas crackle in this collection of short plays about the war in Ukraine... the five scenes presented here feel nicely distinct. Nicolas Kent keeps the tone and tempo varied, effectively balancing moments of humour and heartbreak, while taking time to let us sit with the simple, galling injustice of the situation... David Edgar's Five Day War is a brilliantly taut piece of political drama... Natalka Vorozhbyt's Three Mates locates dark humour in a pained monologue by a Ukrainian draft-dodger... propulsive... harrowing... it underscores the corrosive impact of Russia's war of attrition, and the heroic determination of Ukraine's continued resistance' * The Stage * 'Genuinely moving... incredibly poignant... laced with dark humour and quiet devastation' * All That Dazzles * 'Excellent... an engaging piece of theatre as well as a powerful piece of political commentary... Each play feels unique... shocking... realistic... peppered with playful humour' * Theatre Weekly * 'Extraordinary... sometimes theatre can place us carefully and mercilessly in the room and try to make us understand the experiences of those caught up in war, and the political forces sweeping over them... Nicolas Kent does this here... Jonathan Myerson's play is bleakly classic... David Edgar's Five Day War is clever, discursive, a sly portrait of ambition and political manoeuvring... Natalka Vorozhbit gives us, against the relentless sound of bombs, a tremendous monologue... David Greig takes us right to the front line... Cat Goscovitch's play is short, devastating, and horribly relatable' * TheatreCat *

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