Ukraine Fringe

Festival program

Ukraine Fringe – a festival for everyone!

We believe that art and culture should be accessible to all.

events

Ukraine Fringe

2025

TEENS ACTING WORKSHOP | With Jasmina Sotelo
Aug 30 (Sat), 11:00-13:00
Try Teatry Hub (Kyiv, 3 Simyi Brodskykh)
Price: 400 UAH
 
Tickets HERE

Great opportunity getting to know ProEnglish Drama School and our teen’s coach Jasmine. If you want to practice your English and act on stage at the same time that’s right place:)

What to expect?
– playful acting exercises
– improvisation and work with your team
– staging a short scene from a famous movie or series

Suitable for teens aged 11-15. 
See you at Ukraine Fringe!

SCENES WORKSHOP | with Alex Borovenskiy
Aug 30 (Sat), 13:00-15:00
Try Teatry Hub (Kyiv, 3 Simyi Brodskykh)
Price: 400 UAH
 
Tickets HERE

Join acting workshop with one of the most experienced English-speaking acting coaches in town. During the Scenes Workshop with Alex you will:
– learn how to make a scene and become a drama queen
– find out 3 rules of a good scene
– stage a scene or two to get you acting on stage

This and more at Scenes Workshop at Ukraine Fringe. See ya.

Aug 30 (Sat), 16:00
Try Teatry Hub (Kyiv, 3 Simi Brodskykh)
Price: 150 UAH
 
Tickets HERE

Come and witness the next generation of theatre visionaries!

Young and talented graduates of the Directors Course at ProEnglish Drama School take the stage to present their final works. Each has chosen, crafted, and directed monologues from renowned international playwrights—bringing bold ideas, unexpected perspectives, and fearless creativity to life.

✨ Expect surprises. Expect daring. Expect the future of theatre.

HUMAN WRONGS | ProEnglish Theatre of Ukraine
Aug 30 (Sat), 18:00
Try Teatry Hub (Kyiv, 3 Simyi Brodskykh)
Price: 400 UAH
 
Tickets HERE

Human Wrongs – empowering monodrama performance by ProEnglish Theatre of Ukraine

Human Wrongs is a raw, real, and unapologetically funny one-woman revolution. Based on the play ‘Overflow’ by Travis Alabanza, it is a story of facing fear, owning shame, and laughing in the face of it all, locked in a bathroom stall 👀

Why can we bare our souls on bathroom walls—but not to each other?
Why do some of life’s most honest moments happen between a mirror, a locked door, and a stranger’s lipstick?
What happens when you’ve run out of options and all that’s left is to scream in a public bathroom?

This is a show that’ll make you fall in love with the main character – and maybe even with yourself – one reflection at a time.

If being yourself is a crime, consider this a confession. And if you’ve ever felt out of place, this one’s for you.

director: Alva March
actress: Vero Streltsova
assistant: Anastasiia Karpenko
voice: Rachel McVey

INTRODUCTION TO BUTOH | workshop with Tomas Tse
Aug 31 (Sun), 12:00-15:00
Try Teatry Hub (Kyiv, 3 Simyi Brodskykh)
Price: 800 UAH
 
Tickets HERE

Tomas Tse from Hong Kong is back to Ukraine with his famous Butoh worskhop. Exploring new way of movement and expression for artists and non-artists.

Tomas developed his own method of body work as a Butoh artist by integrating various forms of Asian disciplines, such as Qi-gong, martial arts, yoga and zen into his practice. In this workshop, Thomas will share his experience in body and mind training, as well as basic technique of Butoh notation. Participants will also discover their own creative movement by using the practice of ‘5 elements of Qi’, and go on a journey towards their inner self.
Participants should make sure to wear something comfortable.

Tomas Tse was born in Hong Kong and graduated in Philosophy from the University of Saint Joseph, Macau. Tse was trained in acting and movement techniques since he was young. Tse started his Butoh training with the late Butoh master Waguri Yukio in 2010, becoming one of his main overseas students. He then founded the first Butoh theatre group in South China, ‘Theatre Aether,’ in 2012, aiming to create a unique form of dance theatre that combines Butoh and contemporary dance. He divides his time between Hong Kong and Macau.

Tomas made a breakthrough butoh performance at Ukraine Fringe 2023 and now is back with his “Introduction to Butoh” workshop.

POEMS FROM UKRAINE | ProEnglish Theatre of Ukraine
Aug 31 (Sun), 16:00
Try Teatry Hub (Kyiv, 3 Simi Brodskykh)
Price: 150 UAH
 
Tickets HERE

A global artistic response to the war in Ukraine

Poetry speaks first. Let it be heard.

Poems from Ukraine is a powerful international project that brings the voices of contemporary Ukrainian poets to the world. Through English translations, these poems—full of beauty, pain, resilience, and hope—are read aloud by international artists from across the globe. Prominent Ukrainian poems by Zhadan, Kalytko, Ponomarenko, Slyvynskyy, Kruk, Lazutkin and more performed by artists from the USA, UK, Australia, India and other countries.

Initiated by Alex Borovenskiy and ProEnglish Theatre of Ukraine
With the support of WEST (World of English Speaking Theatres)

At POEMS FROM UKRAINE project presentation at Ukraine Fringe you´ll see the best contemporary Ukrainaina videopoems (translated into English) as performed and recorded by international artists

Also – a very special thing – for Ukraine Fringe only. There will be several new poems in English directed by international directors and performed by Kyiv actors live specially for Ukraine Fringe. Coordinated by Anabell Ramires. Come see the beauty of Ukrainian poetry in English happening LIVE.

THREE YEARS NOW | ProEnglish Theatre of Ukraine
Aug 31 (Sun), 18:00
Try Teatry Hub (Kyiv, 3 Simi Brodskykh)
Price: 400 UAH
 
Tickets HERE

A war-zone coming-of-age story, with karaoke, TikTok moves, and a suspiciously dramatic deck of cards.

Directed by Alex Borovensky and starring three 15-year-old actresses who don’t wait for the lights to dim (they begin the show in the lobby, obviously), this immersive performance pulls you straight into the uncanny world of Ukraine’s wartime adolescence. They move in eerie synchronicity, deliver monologues with unsettling emotional clarity, and somehow still find time to hit a TikTok dance like air raid sirens are just background noise.

The trio plays a war journalist, a drone pilot, and an army medic. Are these real jobs? Fantasy? A way to stay sane while the world unravels? Yes, to all of the above.

It’s funny — until it’s not. Then it’s sad — until someone drops a perfectly timed lyric from 2000s karaoke hell. Then it’s somehow both.

Come for the dancing. Stay for the reality. Leave wondering if your childhood was way too peaceful.

written by Anna Halas
directed by Alex Borovenskiy

actors:
Amy Mykhailovska
Kira Meshcherska
Kristyna Spychak

Aug 29 (Fri), 18:00 => MOVED TO 31.08 19:30
Try Teatry Hub (Kyiv, 3 Simi Brodskykh)
Price: 150 UAH
 
Tickets HERE

Our opening Comedy Night at Ukraine Fringe on Friday will be hosted with Serhii “Charismat” Velychanskii and his:

“IMPROV with the Universe”

A solo performance of comedy improvisation with a taste of applied psychology.
How the laws of improvisation work on stage and in life.
100% improvisation with audience participation.
You are the directors and screenwriters.
You are the UNIVERSE that makes its own adjustments to life!

Author: Serhii “Charismat” Velichanskii – a veteran, founder of Ukraine’s first community of comedy improvisation (since 2009).
Author of the book on the practical benefits of applied improvisation laws in everyday life, “Paths of Effectiveness.”

DAY 1
DAY 2
DAY 3
AUG 29
18:00 – Comedy Night / Ukraine Fringe opening
AUG 30
11:00 – TEENS ACTING WORKSHOP | With Jasmina Sotelo

13:00 – SCENES WORKSHOP | with Alex Borovenskiy

16:00 – DIRECTORS GRADUATION SHOW

18:00 – HUMAN WRONGS | ProEnglish Theatre of Ukraine

AUG 31
12:00 – INTRODUCTION TO BUTOH | workshop with Tomas Tse 
16:00 – POEMS FROM UKRAINE | ProEnglish Theatre of Ukraine
 18:00 – THREE YEARS NOW | ProEnglish Theatre of Ukraine

Memories of

Ukraine Fringe

2023

Report to an Academy | Scena theatre, Robert McNamara (USA)
“Report to an Academy” by Franz Kafka
 
An ape named Red Peter has evolved to behave like a human. He presents his fascinating tale of transformation – and the horrid details of his former ape life – to a top scientific Academy. Based on the classic short story by the master of existential storytelling Franz Kafka. Adapted for the stage by acclaimed German director Gabriele Jakobi. Don’t miss SCENA’s wild parable brought to life. McNamara’s return to the stage is riveting. He will compel you to ponder the issues of free will, vegetarianism, and animal rights.
 
Pussycat in Memory of Darkness | Kristin Milward (UK)
 
“I want to report a robbery…I was robbed. What was stolen from me? Almost everything…Home, land, car, work, friends, city, faith in goodness…”
Discover “Pussycat in Memory of Darkness,” a  play by Neda Nejdana that tells the story of a woman selling kittens on the streets of Donbas.
Don’t miss the chance to see this acclaimed play, which was nominated for multiple awards, including Best New Play, during its original production at the Finborough Theatre in August 2022.
In December 2022, the Finborough Theatre became the first foreign theatre to perform in Ukraine since the Russian invasion.
 
Be my Marguerite ! (Or in the strangeness of loneliness) | Madeleine Bongard (Switzerland)
 
“I strongly believe that beauty can change people’s lives. Beauty can change the life of acommunity. Beauty can change social balances. Art is a daily prayer. ” says M.
The character is written based on interviews given by French author Marguerite Duras and other documentary inputs, recounting the topics of loneliness, love and family relationships, as well as the connection to our bodies and inner worlds.
This original creation was Dyki Dushi’s first show, created in 2019 and performed in Kyiv, Lviv ( Francophonies) and Mariupol (GogolFest) during that same year. The company comes from Switzerland and has been working with Ukraine since 2016
To-To: a fairy tale of Lo-ting | Tomas K.H. Tse, Theatre Aether (Hong Kong)

Mountain shadows heavily crimped over villages and times. Each broken shoulder had a demoded name, one by one, been erased in a scarlett moon night. What memories remained if one who don’t speak own language? An half-blinded Oldman is about to tell a fairytale of Lu-Ting, a name who is forbbiden to told.

Inspired by the local Hong Kong myth of “Lo Ting”, the solo piece will reimage the “Lo Ting” story by the Butoh concept and reponses to the complex situation in Hong Kong’s recent time.
DR GLAS | Daniel Gerroll (USA)
The novel that scandalised Scandanavia, Hjalmar Söderberg’s 1905 psychological thriller is brought vividly to life in this stage adaptation by Jeffrey Hatcher. Although “vividly” may seem an odd word to use when the stage is set with only two simple chairs, Dr Glas is brought to life in all his complexities with remarkable clarity by veteran British actor Daniel Gerroll.
Based on the David Barrett English translation first published in 2002, it’s tempting to view as a proto Scandi-noir. He believes in euthanasia and carries six potassium cyanide pills – for his own use – if his body begins to fail as badly as the “wrecks” he’s forced to prop up….
 
 
Monologues Night 

A special event of Ukraine Fringe festival where any Ukrainian actor had a chance to showcase their talent in front of the audience and the jury of casting directors

For a monologue: basic lighting, minimum props. It’s all about acting

We do believe that Ukraine has one of the strongest actors in the world. We proved it at Monologues Night at Ukraine Fringe

L’Imposteur | Julie Zeno (France)

“L’Imposteur” by Kris Krainock
Directed by Aurore Kahan
Performed by Julie Zeno in French and in English
Subtitled in English

Janice, a French actress in her thirties living in Paris, is preparing for a very important audition for an American series that will finally enable her career to take off. As she prepares for the audition, Janice finds herself under increasingly virulent attack from a “Voice” that seems to come from both within and without…
Our protagonist, along with the audience, finds herself confronted with her own impostor and its different manifestations. Will she be able to overcome its attacks? Is this a battle she can win? 
Naïve Experiments | ProEnglish Theatre (Ukraine)
based on Erlend Loe’s bestseller “Naïve. Super”
directed by Alex Borovenskiy
 
“I have two friends. A good one and a bad one. And then there’s my brother. He might not be quite as friendly as I am, but he’s OK”. That’s how starts the story of HE, a man in his mid-twenties who suddenly becomes confused by life, moves out from his parents, quits university and settles in his brother’s apartment. HE tries to rediscover the sense of life by throwing ball against the wall, riding a bicycle, making lists of things and talking about time and relativity.
With the strange and charming characters HE meets along his way he rediscovers simple pleasures of life and learns to deal with post-traumatic syndrome. Naïve Experiments is about miracles that often times we often don’t notice.
Nero’s Second Burning | Kristin Milward (UK)
Two war-time diarists – voices from beyond the grave.
76 years after the Nuremberg Trials, the world is again watching as Europe burns.
These are two wartime diarists, whose voices come to us from beyond the grave.
Hatred of the Nazi regime elevated Fritz Reck’s prose to heights of prophetic genius; Etty Hillesum was a young Jewish woman who bestrode both Judaism and Christianity and whose diary charts her interior journey from the material world to one of the spirit.
His diary was animated by rage, hers by love. Like the shutter of an old-fashioned camera, their writing keeps shifting the angle of our perceptions, never more so than now. 
MOVE TO MEET | Michele Chung (USA)
An one-on-one movement based improvisation as a gift to the audience. The audience and the artist will meet for a walk, share their story and the artist will spontaneously perform for the audience as gift for their sharing and a memory token of a heart felt conversation, remembering the simple and beauty of compassion and love is instinctive.
 
Michele Chung, independent Hong Kong artist in exile. Human rights advocate. Since her graduation in the Master degree of theatre studies in University of Leeds, Michele has been working with persons with disabilities, creating performances of scripted plays as well as improvisational theatre called Playback Theatre. Move to Meet is a project that came out of the Tokyo Performing Art Market in 2017 and now developing in South America. 
14:00, ProEnglish Theatre

English Songs As Comedy: The Best Of

English Songs as Comedy is a sketch comedy with the lyrics of popular songs in English performed on stage as short funny scenes
“The Show Must Go On” as the story of two illegal immigrants?
“How Much is the Fish” as the rise and fall of a salesperson from flea market?
“Blinded by the Lights” as a love declaration to a table lamp?
All of the above and more!

This time we prepared the best bits, that have already become audience favourites, from over a dozen shows.

From jazz classics to the latest pop hits, no song is safe from the hilarious interpretations of our actors 🙂