Bunker Cabaret – Hooligan Art Community (Ukraine)

 5 July | 7 July | 8 July | 9 July  8pm

On 24 February 2022, the full-scale Russian invasion brought war to all of Ukraine. Hooligan Art Community’s work was disassembled overnight and its artists displaced. Two months after the invasion began, the situation in Ukraine allowed women from the company to travel to a residency in Germany to work with Hooligan Art Community and Mahogany Opera (as part of British Council’s planned UK/Ukraine season) while two male members of the company remained in Ukraine, restricted by law from leaving the country. In spite of this, Danylo and Sam worked together in a bomb-shelter in Kyiv, filming sketches and songs which they sent to their colleagues outside the country. In this way they developed new scenes which would become the inspiration for BUNKER CABARET. Combining music, poetry, dance and film, this unique theatre event is a powerful exploration of love versus totalitarianism, and the personal conflicts of making art in time of war.

Hooligan Art Community is an independent theatre company established in Kyiv in 2019. The group makes performances, installations and films in non-traditional spaces that explore the dynamic relationship between actor and audience. They have worked entirely outside of the state theatre system creating work that advocates for freedom of expression and equality.

Cast: Sam Kyslyi, Danylo Shramenko, Mirra Zhuchkova, Natalka Perchyshyna

Director: Peter Cant Lighting designer: Natalka Perchyshyna

Video artist: Liubov Sliusareva Costume designer: Paul Kuraksin

Movement and Dramaturgical Consultant: Mathis Kleinschnittger

Tour Producer: Catherine Lake

Bunker Cabaret is co-produced by Hooligan Art Community and Mahogany Opera in association with with imPOSSIBLE Producing. The Oxford performances are supported by TORCH as part of the Humanities Cultural Programme.