Developed by British Council in Ukraine and 'Theatrical Platform' NGO, Taking the Stage supports artistically original, socially significant, experimental productions and creates opportunities to exchange of ideas, experiences and theatrical practices between Ukrainian and British theatrical professionals.
More than 40 Ukrainian theaters and directors took part in the last year's contest. The jury selected three finalists whose premieres will be presented to critics and theater audience during February and March 2018. These are the following:
— "Кицюня" ("Kitty"), dir. Maksym Holenko and the "Wild Theater" (based on "Lieutenant from Inishmore Island" by Martin McDonald). Premiere will take place on February 15 and 16 at Scene 6.
— "4.48 Psychosis", dir. Roza Sarkisian, "Actor" theater (based on the same-name play by Sarah Kane); mentors: Mark Down, founder and artistic director of the Blind Summit Theater (London, UK), Tamara Trunova, director, finalist of the last year's Taking the Stage competition (Kyiv, Ukraine). Premiere is scheduled on February 27 and 28 at the Actor Theater.
— "The Universe in a Nutshell", dir. Dmytro Zakhozhenko, New Drama Theater on Pechersk, Kyiv (based on the same-name book by Stephen Hawking); mentors: Sarah Tipple, director, playwright (London, Great Britain), Oksana Dmitrieva, artistic director at Afanasiev Puppet Theater (Kharkiv, Ukraine). Premiere will take place on March 17 and 18 at New Drama Theater on Pechersk.
The winners of the competition received a purge of copyright for their claimed work for one year, mentorship of British and Ukrainian directors for the period of the performance production, and a thirty thousand UAH grant for the performance budget.
For more detailed information about Taking the Stage, please visit the British Council in Ukraine web-site.