Kyiv Theater: An Island of Hope

Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 brings back dark memories of 1930s Europe for Ariane Mnouchkine, the 84-year-old theater director and founder of the prestigious Théâtre du Soleil in Paris. Against this backdrop and in solidarity with Ukrainian resistance, Mnouchkine decides to put together a theater workshop in Kyiv, Ukraine. Amidst the shadow of violence and loss, the theater troupe becomes a rare site of freedom and creative experimentation, allowing the actors to express feelings of tenderness, anger, joy, and love. Resisting both defeatism and naïve optimism, KYIV THEATER: AN ISLAND OF HOPE is an essential and timely exploration of what it means to create art in times of war.