Two artistic events in solidarity with Ukraine are being organized in the coming days in Montreal around readings of texts by Ukrainian authors, the first at the Prospero theater (Sunday 1er May at 1 p.m., in French) and the second at the Centaur Theater (Tuesday, May 3 at 7 p.m., in French and English).
Both activities will serve to expose and celebrate the culture of the country invaded for two months by Russia while encouraging donations to help the victims of the war. Performing artists and artisans will work on a voluntary basis.
The Prospero theater offers a reading of bad roads by Ukrainian author Natalka Vorozhbyt, born in kyiv in 1975. The premonitory play, created in London in 2017, tells the fragmented lives of people affected by a conflict in the Donbass region, now truly besieged. A film scripted by M.me Vorozhbyt represented Ukraine at the Oscars this year.
A dozen actors
The reading will be offered by a dozen actors, including Paul Ahmarani, Catherine de Léan and Gregory Hlady, himself behind this benefit reading. “War has become a planetary event that affects everyone,” explains the man of the theatre. Me, this war concerns me personally. »
Born in Khorostkiv, Ukraine, during the time of the USSR, he was trained as an actor in kyiv and as a director in Moscow. He settled in Montreal more than 30 years ago. “Actors with whom I have already worked have died. Many of my colleagues have taken up arms and are openly participating in the war. I have many friends there, and my brother, who lives in Western Ukraine. »
“Writing of Resilience”
Gregory Hlady will also be performing Voices from Ukraine at the Centaur Theater on Tuesday. This time, the reading will be organized around a selection of Ukrainian texts read in particular by Céline Bonnier, Julie Le Breton and Leni Parker. OSM violinist Katherine Palyga, also of Ukrainian origin, will perform for the occasion. This other benefit event is part of a series offered in other North American cities.
Author Michel Marc Bouchard curates the show with Leslie Baker. He visited Ukraine in 2017. “I felt helpless and needed to do something, and that’s how my personal project tied in with Centaur’s,” he explains.
The anthology of recent texts includes the very recent poem paper boy by the 18-year-old Ukrainian poet Vitaly Bilozir. Information on the current status of all authors will be transmitted during the evening.
“The texts talk about what this country has been going through for a very long time,” says Mr. Bouchard. They tell of the communist regime, Chernobyl, the invasion of Crimea, the Donbass, the Maidan revolution and the millions of refugees, he summarizes. It is a writing of resilience. »
The two evenings can be seen as a counterweight to cultural institutions that continue to receive Russian artists who do not strongly denounce the war. “I am ambiguous about the boycott of Russian artists,” said Mr. Bouchard. You have to judge by piece. But a Russian evening at the OSM… Are you that disconnected? »
Mr. Hlady is quite surprised to see the positions taken by his Russian colleagues. “Many are ‘brainwashed’ by the propaganda,” he says. He wants Russian artists to take a firm stance and denounce the war. “It’s like obvious. You have to say things as they are. We cannot content ourselves with vague statements calling for peace everywhere on the planet. »
At Prospero, spectators will be invited to make a donation to the Canada-Ukraine Foundation after reserving their seats. At the Centaur, there will be a fundraiser for two foundations, but Michel Marc Bouchard explains that the primary goal is really to give culture a voice.
“Our reaction against Russia and for Ukraine wants to show the strength of the Ukrainian people and Ukrainian culture,” he said. I would also selfishly say that this celebration of resilience is going to do us moral good. »