In 2012, I was invited by New Pechersk Drama Theatre (Kiev, Ukraine) to lead the creation of a new a new piece inspired by ‘Ukrainian tails’ of Nikolai Gogol, 19th century ‘magic realism’ writer. Working with twelve actors, we went through a process of experimentation, trying to ‘marry’ dance, movement and acting. This was not an easy task. However, I am proud of the result. We filled Gogol’s surreal situations with new possibilities and reinvented his imagery. We have drowned maidens moving in a buto-esque dance, goblins dancing swing as if on a hot stove, young lovers move through space in an ephemeral contact…The play was released in May 2013 to a national critical acclaim and won a prestigious Bronek award for breaking conventions and being a ‘true phenomenon of stage art’. Reviewers called it “crispy as young wine”, and “work with a soul”.
