Archive
The Ethnology Notebooks. 2022. #2 (164). P. 265-522 According to the materials of the... read »
«Narodoznavchi Zoshyty» 2008 year, issue 1-2 read »
«Narodoznavchi Zoshyty» 1995 year, issue 1 read »
«Narodoznavchi Zoshyty» 2015 year, issue 1 read »

« 2026. # 1 (187)

The Ethnology Notebooks. 2026. № 1 (187), 129—137

UDK 792.028:004.896

DOI https://doi.org/10.15407/

The date the article was first submitted to the publication 19.01.2026

the date the article was accepted for publication after review 4.02.2026

the date of publication (publication)

UKRAINIAN-POLISH THEATRICAL INITIATIVES DURING THE RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR (2022—2025)

SOVHYRA Tetiana

  • ORCID ID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7023-5361
  • Doctor of Cultural Studies, Associate Professor, academic degree,
  • academic title,
  • Dean of the Faculty of Event Management, Fashion
  • and Show Business at the Kyiv National University of Culture and Arts,
  • 36, Yevhena Konovaltsya Str., 01133, Kyiv, Ukraine,
  • Contacts: e-mail: STIsovgyra@gmail.com

Abstract. Problem statement. During the Russian-Ukrainian war, the migration of Ukrainians led to the formation of numerous associations and institutions aimed at promoting Ukrainian culture. In particular, Polish cultural institutions invited several hundred Ukrainian artists to collaborate. Therefore, the research focuses on cultural initiatives to organise the theatrical life of Ukrainians in Poland, assimilation trends and prospects for further cultural development, with an emphasis on the significant support of the Polish side (theatrical institutions, charitable organisations and individuals).

The purpose of the article is to analyse the current state of cultural partnership between the Republic of Poland and Ukraine.

The research methods. The research is based on general scientific methods — empirical, descriptive, structural-functional. The issue of cultural heritage preservation is examined through the prism of scientific discourse on international cooperation in the field of theatre arts. Since the source base consists of theatre texts and interviews with participants in theatre initiatives, photographs, advertising brochures and video recordings of Ukrainian performances, on the basis of which certain patterns in the trends of the development of current theatre practices in Poland are identified, methods characteristic of literary studies and cultural studies are used for the analytical interpretation of these processes. In particular, content analysis was conducted to identify a certain typology and compare ideological narratives.

Research results: Based on illustrative materials, brochures, periodicals, interviews, and conference materials, the dynamics of the development of the main thematic areas of theatrical practice and the proclamation of ideological narratives in Ukrainian performances implemented in Poland during the period of full-scale war have been revealed. The geography of the spread of performances with Ukrainian themes is identified as a manifestation of the phenomenon of Ukrainian-Polish cultural synthesis. Emphasis is placed on the paradigm shift in Ukrainian-Polish relations during the period of Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine. The main challenges related to the military situation are highlighted, and the prospects for further integration of interethnic relations in the context of the European educational space are identified.

Keywords: Ukraine, Republic of Poland, theatre practices, Ukrainian repertoire, war.

REFERENCES

  • Geographical and political atlas of Poland. Retrieved from: http://atlas2022.uw.edu.pl/mapa-tygodnia-uchodzcy-z-ukrainy-od-poczatku-wojny-do-konca-marca/ (data zvernennia 13.01.2026) [in Ukrainian].
  • Shostachuk, T. (2025). Ukraine and the Republic of Poland: educational and cultural ties during wartime. International Science Journal of Education & Linguistics, 4 (6), 10—22 [in Ukrainian].
  • Solidarity with Ukraine (2022).Retrieved from: https://nimit.pl/aktualnosci/solidarni-z-ukraina-%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%BB%D1%96%D0%B4%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BD%D1%96-%D0%B7-%D1%83%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B0%D1%97%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%8E/ (Last accessed: 13.01.2026) [in Ukrainian].
  • Sisters. Journal, 191. Retrieved from: https://posestry.eu/ (Last accessed: 13.01.2026) [in Ukrainian].
  • Shostachuk, T. (2025). Ukraine and the Republic of Poland: educational and cultural ties during wartime. International Science Journal of Education & Linguistics, № 4 (6), 10—22 [in Ukrainian].
  • Shostachuk, T. (2025). Ukraine and the Republic of Poland: educational and cultural ties during wartime. International Science Journal of Education & Linguistics, № 4 (6), 10—22 [in Ukrainian].
  • Shevchenko, O. (2025). Ukrainian theatre in Poland — how Ukrainian artists create in exile. News of Ukraine. Retrieved from: https://news.d.ua/culture/ykrayinskii-teatr-y-polshi-iak-ykrayinski-mitci-tvoriat-y-emigraciyi-novini-ykrayini/ (Last accessed: 13.01.2026) [in Ukrainian].
  • Gayshenets, A. (2920). Close strangers: how theatre helps build relations between Ukraine and Poland. LB.UA. Retrieved from: https://lb.ua/culture/2020/11/17/470376_blizki_neznayomi_yak_teatr.html ((Last accessed: 13.01.2026) [in Ukrainian].
  • Taylor, D. Augusto Boal 1931—2009. TDR, 53~(4), 10—11.
  • Harbuziuk, M. (2018). The image of Ukraine in 19th-century Polish theatrical discourse: strategies and forms of representation: monohrafiia. Lviv: Prostir-M [in Ukrainian].
  • Horbatovs’kyj, P. (2008). From amateur circle to professional theatre (Polish theatre in Kyiv in 1905—1914). The Slavic World: Collection of Scientific Works (Issue 6, pp. 67—92). Kyiv: IMFE im. M.T. Ryl’s’koho NAN Ukrainy [in Ukrainian].
  • Tarasenko, V. (2024). Ukrainian-Polish humanitarian cooperation: current status and prospects. Bulletin: international relations, 57 (1), 80—86. DOI: 10.17721/1728- 2292.2023/1-57/80-86 [in Ukrainian].
  • Shostachuk, T. (2025). Ukraine and the Republic of Poland: educational and cultural ties during wartime. International Science Journal of Education & Linguistics, № 4 (6), 10—22 [in Ukrainian].
  • Gayshenets, A. (2920). Close strangers: how theatre helps build relations between Ukraine and Poland. LB.UA. Retrieved from: https://lb.ua/culture/2020/11/17/470376_blizki_neznayomi_yak_teatr.html (Last accessed: 13.01.2026) [in Ukrainian].
  • Horbatovs’kyj, P. (2008). From amateur circle to professional theatre (Polish theatre in Kyiv in 1905—1914). The Slavic World: Collection of Scientific Works (Issue 6, pp. 67—92). Kyiv: IMFE im. M.T. Ryl’s’koho NAN Ukrainy [in Ukrainian].
  • Uliasz S. (2001). Images of Ukraine and Ukrainians in Polish literature. On the literature of the borderlands and cultural borderlines. Rzeszow [in Polish].
  • Kurbas, L., & Korzeniowska-Bihun, A. (Ed.). (2021). Theatre writings.  Wydawnictwo: Instytut Teatralny im. Zbigniewa Raszewskiego [in Polish].
  • Ilnytska, L. 12 x Ukraina. Retrieved from: https://teatr-pismo.pl/12-x-ukraina/ (Last accessed: 13.01.2026) [in Ukrainian].
  • Boroch, R., & Korzeniowska-Bihun, A. Ukrainian Theatre in Exile: A Case Study. Poland Qeios. 2024. DOI: 10.32388/M7ADD1.
  • Mosaic Ukrainian Editorial Office. Retrieved from: https://www.polskieradio.pl/mosaic-redakcja-ukrainska/tag185380/strona2112 (Last accessed: 13.01.2026) [in Polish].
  • Shostachuk, T. (2025). Ukraine and the Republic of Poland: educational and cultural ties during wartime. International Science Journal of Education & Linguistics, № 4 (6), 10—22 [in Ukrainian].
  • Shostachuk, T. (2025). Ukraine and the Republic of Poland: educational and cultural ties during wartime. International Science Journal of Education & Linguistics, № 4 (6), 10—22 [in Ukrainian].
  • Polish dialogue. Retrieved from: https://polskidialog.pl/ (Last accessed: 13.01.2026) [in Polish].
  • Skwarek, R. (2024). It is very valuable when people from Ukraine and Poland come together around the theatre: Ukrainian theatre scene in Wroclaw. Retrieved from: https://naszwybir.pl/teatr-gas/(Last accessed: 13.01.2026) [in Ukrainian].
  • Skwarek, R. (2024). It is very valuable when people from Ukraine and Poland come together around the theatre: Ukrainian theatre scene in Wroclaw. Retrieved from: https://naszwybir.pl/teatr-gas/ (Last accessed: 13.01.2026) [in Ukrainian].
  • Reconstruction. Jerzy Grotowski Institute. Retrieved from: https://grotowski-institute.pl/wydarzenia/rekonstrukcja-%d1%80%d0%b5%d0%ba%d0%be%d0%bd%d1%81%d1%82%d1%80%d1%83%d0%ba%d1%86%d1%96%d1%8f/# (Last accessed: 13.01.2026) [in Polish].
  • Baker, A.B. (2006). Art Speaks in Healing Survivors of War: The Use of Art. Therapy in treating trauma survivors. Trauma Treatment Techniques. Ed. Jacqueline Garrick and Mary Beth Williams. The Haworth Press.
  • Bal, E. (2023). Cracking the field of Linguistic Recognition. Theatre Diary, 72 (4),  81—97.
  • Kurbas, L., & Korzeniowska-Bihun, A. (Ed.). (2021). Theatre writings.. Wydawnictwo: Instytut Teatralny im. Zbigniewa Raszewskiego [in Polish].
  • Participation in the Conference «Resilience. Recovery. Future: Culture in the Recovery of Ukraine». RedCross. Retrieved from: https://redcross.org.ua/en/news/2025/06/117116/ (Last accessed: 13.01.2026).
  • Shostachuk, T. (2025). Ukraine and the Republic of Poland: educational and cultural ties during wartime. International Science Journal of Education & Linguistics, № 4 (6), 10—22 [in Ukrainian].
  • Gayshenets, A. (2920). Close strangers: how theatre helps build relations between Ukraine and Poland. LB.UA. Retrieved from: https://lb.ua/culture/2020/11/17/470376_blizki_neznayomi_yak_teatr.html (Last accessed: 13.01.2026) [in Ukrainian].
  • Kanars’ka, A. (2022). The Polish People's Theatre in Lviv: a view through time. Culture.pl. Retrieved from: https://culture.pl/ua/stattia/polskyy-narodnyy-teatr-u-lvovi-pohlyad-kriz-chas (Last accessed: 13.01.2026) [in Ukrainian].
  • Transmission. UA: drama on the move. Retrieved from: https://ui.org.ua/en/sectors-en/en-projects/transmission-ua-2/ (Last accessed: 13.01.2026) [in Ukrainian].
Our authors
Kuzmenko Oksana Senior Researcher, Candidate of... read »
Stepan Pavluk. Prof., full member of NAS of Ukraine,... read »
Oksana Sapeliak. Senior Research Fellow, Ph.D. in... read »
Roman Radovych. Researcher, Ph.D. in History. read »
Boikos’ pandemonium: categories of evil deceased
In the article have been presented some research-work on peculiarities of Boikos’ traditional demonological notions as for so-called evil deceased; on the basis of field records and ethnological literary sources quite a number of scum categories have been defined as well as essential habits, modes of behavior and functions of these personages of people’s demonology.
Read »

On bessarabian and moldavian ukrainians in the studies of historical ethnography
The article has thrown some light upon a sum of scientific findings got during XIX to XXI cc. in historio-ethnographic studies of Bessarabia and Moldavian Ukrainians. In the pre­sent paper has been given author’s answer to the problem of lacking progress as for the numerous themes concerning Ukrainians. State and achievements of the research-works in Ukrainians’ material and spiritual culture by the scientists of Moldavia and Ukraine through the years of independence has been exposed.
Read »

Maternity ritualism by volhynians in publications of the second half XIX to the early XXI cc.
In the article have been considered some basic landmarks for fixing and publication of ethnographic materials on the maternity rites of Volhynia with analytical study in ritual elements, their kinds and territories of origin. The article has also raised a problem of gaps in studies of maternity rites of Ukrainian historio-ethnographic Volhynia.
Read »

On field exploration of russian and belarusian ethnologists and etnolinguists in Ukrainian Polisia 1945—1980s
In the study based on a wide range of literary materials have been comprehensively characterised field research in Polisia of Ukraine, performed by Russian and Belarusian ethnologists during 1945—1980s as well as Moscow ethnolinguists and other researchers from ethnologic centres of Russia, Ukraine and Belarus in the course of realization of Ethnolinguistic Atlas of Polisia program. Particular attention has been paid to geography, methods, themes and research results of scientific projects.
Read »