From Page to Stage: A Novel's Theatrical Debut
The acclaimed novel 'I See You're Interested in Darkness' by Illarion Pavliuk is being adapted for the theater. This co-production between the independent 'Wild Theatre' and the National Maria Zankovetska Theatre will premiere in Kyiv in February 2026, followed by a nationwide tour across Ukraine. The project marks a significant moment for contemporary Ukrainian literature on stage.
The story follows criminal psychologist Andrii Haister to the village of Buskiv Sad, where he confronts his antagonist, a serial killer known as The Beast. Director Maksym Holenko's production is the first theatrical interpretation of this work in Ukraine. The performance will run for two and a half hours, including an intermission, and will be accompanied by a live musical score for every show.
Performance Schedule and Cast
The Kyiv premiere run is scheduled for February 3, 4, and 8-13, 2026. Following the capital's engagement, the production will tour to the following cities:
- Cherkasy
- Poltava
- Dnipro
- Ternopil
- Khmelnytskyi
- Rivne
- Lutsk
- Ivano-Frankivsk
- Chernivtsi
- Uzhhorod
- Vinnytsia
- Bila Tserkva
- Odesa
Tickets for the initial premiere shows in Lviv and Kyiv sold out within hours, indicating strong public interest.
The play is dramatized by Oleksii Dorychevskyi, a current serviceman in the Armed Forces of Ukraine. The director, Honored Artist of Ukraine Maksym Holenko, aims to create a production that resonates with both audiences and the theatrical community. The cast features a notable ensemble of Ukrainian actors:
- Hryhorii Baklanov
- Oksana Tsymbalist
- Yelyzaveta Tsilyk
- Mark Drobot
- Ihor Rubashkin
- Mykyta Slobodeniuk
- Mariia Demenko
- Oleksandr Melnyk
- Ihor Bilytsia
- Illya Choporov
- Artem Martynyshyn
- Yuliia Shapoval
- Yevheniia Miakienko
The production's soundtrack will feature music by bands such as Medovyi Polyn, Vii, Kyiv Ethno Trio, Perkalaba, and Vopli Vidopliassova, alongside authentic Ukrainian folk songs. Author Illarion Pavliuk, whose other novels include 'White Ash' and 'The Dance of a Fool,' served in Ukraine's Defence Intelligence (GUR) in 2022-2023 and later in the Ministry of Defence's media department. He is also a military veteran, having volunteered with the 'Harpun' battalion in 2015, where he was wounded in action.
The stage adaptation of 'I See You're Interested in Darkness' is a major event in Ukrainian cultural life, highlighting the enduring relevance of themes related to the psychological dimensions of crime and the struggle against it.
This extensive national tour will broaden the play's audience, promoting contemporary Ukrainian drama and engaging viewers in discussions of significant social issues. The promise of a live musical performance is also expected to add emotional depth and intensify the impact of the on-stage drama.