Kolyada proty imperiyi

About the performance

«Carol against the Empire» — a performance-chronicle of resistance, created based on the materials of the «Block» operation in 1972. The production turns to the history of repressions against the Ukrainian intelligentsia and the sixties movement, showing the struggle for the right to speak Ukrainian, sing carols and remain oneself even under the pressure of the totalitarian system.

The performance is based on open documents of the Soviet special services, which recorded the persecution of Ukrainian artists, dissidents and participants in Christmas nativity scenes. Through the personal stories of the characters, the play explores the theme of cultural resistance and the power of memory.

The artistic team

• Ihor Bilits — author, director
• Anna Shkroghal — set design and costumes
• Roksolana Gomenyuk — assistant director
• V’yacheslav Zhukov — assistant director
• Tetyana Kohut — assistant director
• Konstantin Shelest — assistant director

Information about the performance

• Genre — chronicles of resistance
• Duration — 2 hours
• Premiere — March 25, 2026