Reading of Mothers. A Song for Wartime

The war rituals of violence against women never change. War raises questions for Europe: about accountability in the face of a threat and the mechanisms of its defence. Out of the testimonies of Ukrainian, Belarusian, and Polish mothers and children, those who have fled war and persecution, Marta Górnicka is creating a choral play. Ukrainian children's games, lively traditional songs, spells, and political statements all meet each other. The Polish director and founder of the Political Voice Institute Berlin (PVI) is this year presenting a reading of the ensemble piece, as well as materials from the rehearsals that have been taking place in Warsaw with refugee women from Bucha, Mariupol and Kiev. The choir starts its wartime song with Schedrivka, a traditional Ukrainian folk song. These melodic well wishes are addressed to all people, for a new time, for a time that we would like to see last a lifetime. 

Interview with Marta Gornicka

With Laure Mathis, Palina Shkliar  
And in video Katerina Aleinikova, Svetlana Berestovskaja, Sasza Czerkas, Palina Dobrovolskaja, Katarzyna Jaźnicka, Ewa Konstanciak, Lisa Kozłowa, Anastasia Kulinich, Natalia Mazur, Kamila Michalska, Anna Mykhailova, Daria Novik, Valeria Obodiańska, Swietlana Onischak, Maria Robaszkiewicz, Julia Rydna, Polina Shkliar, Aleksandra Sroka, Katerina Taran, Bohdana Zazhytska, Elena Zui Voitekhovskaya
Text, conception and direction Marta Górnicka  
Subtitles Zofia Szymanowska
Video Michał Rumas  

Video screening

Music Wojciech Frycz, Marta Górnicka 
Ukrainian traditional music excerpt from Shchedrivka by Mikołaj Leontowicz 
Choreography Evelin Facchini  
Dramaturgical cooperation Olga Byrska, Maria Yasinska  
Translation Cécile Bocianowski (French), Olga Paszkowska (English), Olesya Mamchych (Ukrainian)
Subtitles Zofia Szymanowska
Video Michał Rumas  
Costumes for the video recording of the rehearsal Joanna Załęska 

Production The Chorus of Women Foundation (Warsaw), 
Coproduction Maxim Gorki Theater (Berlin), Festival d’Avignon, Maillon Théâtre De Strasbourg Scène européenne, Spring Performing Arts Festival (Utrecht), Tangente St. Pölten – Festival Für Gegenwartskultur (Austria) 
With the support of the City of Warsaw and for the 77th edition of the Festival d’Avignon : Fondation Ammodo  
In cooperation with Teatr Dramatyczny, Nowy Teatr, Euro Scene Festival Leipzig, Ukrainian Institute, Foundation for Freedom, Warsaw, Independent Non- Profit Public Organisation Focused on Migrants from Ukraine, Chechnya, Belarus, Tajikistan, and Other Countries Who Settled in Warsaw, “Przystanek Świetlica” – Bus Stop: Community Centre, Day Room for Children and Youth of Migrants, Solidary Community Centre “Słonecznik”, Community Centre of Ukrainian Artists in Warsaw, Independent Foundation Platform Kalektar – Kalktar Org, a Research Platform on Belarusian Contemporary Art 
Show in partnership with France Médias Monde

Stay tuned to RFI, which will be covering the project in French and Ukrainian.