Ukraine Tour Announced for HARMIDER Theatre's Stage Adaptation of Pokalchuk's Novella

HARMIDER Independent Theatre Takes 'Lake Wind' on a Nationwide Tour

According to Главком: HARMIDER, an independent theatre company, is launching a national tour across Ukraine featuring 'Lake Wind,' the first-ever theatrical adaptation of Yurko Pokalchuk's novella of the same name. The production premiered in Lutsk on May 2 and 3, with the next performance set for Kyiv on May 19.

Live Polissian folk songs are a key element of 'Lake Wind.' To bring the show to life, rare traditional instruments were crafted by master artisan Dmytro Bereziuk. Lviv-based artist Zirka Savka designed the original costumes and reconstructed masks for the production. The project is a collaboration involving the Frontier Literary Platform, the Algorithm of Actions platform, and the HARMIDER Theatre.

The theatre team describes this story as more than just source material-it's an opportunity to immerse themselves in Polissian mythology and recreate its atmosphere on stage.

“It’s important for us that this story resonates with the unique character of Polissia-its hazy, misty, slightly hypnotic reality,” says Ruslana Porytska.

HARMIDER Theatre's Tour Schedule

Following its Lutsk premiere, 'Lake Wind' will travel across Ukraine. Upcoming performances are scheduled in the following cities:

• Kyiv: May 19 at 7:00 PM (doors open at 6:30 PM), Stage 6 (1 Vasylkivska Street).
• Poltava: May 21 at 6:00 PM, Gogol Poltava Music and Drama Theatre (23 Sobornosti Street).
• Lviv: June 30 at 6:30 PM, Lesya Ukrainka Lviv Academic Drama Theatre (36 Horodotska Street).
• Chernivtsi: July 1 at 6:00 PM, O. Kobylianska Chernivtsi Music and Drama Theatre (1 Teatralna Square).
• Ternopil: July 2 at 6:00 PM, T. H. Shevchenko Ternopil Academic Regional Ukrainian Drama Theatre (6 Taras Shevchenko Boulevard).
• Rivne: July 6 at 6:00 PM, Rivne Academic Ukrainian Music and Drama Theatre (1 Teatralna Square).
• Ivano-Frankivsk: August 1 at 6:00 PM, Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Philharmonic (3 Les Kurbas Street).

In addition to the tour, work continues in Lutsk on creating the 'Dim Pako' creative space at the Pokalchuk family estate, where the theatre team is engaging with the Pokalchuk family archive.

'Lake Wind' holds significance not only for theatre enthusiasts but also for promoting Ukrainian culture and folklore. Adapting Yurko Pokalchuk's work-an important figure in Ukrainian literature-allows a new generation of audiences to connect with Polissia's cultural heritage. The HARMIDER Theatre's tour also strengthens Ukraine's theatrical scene by introducing fresh ideas and interpretations. As such, the events surrounding 'Lake Wind' could mark an important step in revitalizing the country's cultural life.

As HARMIDER Theatre embarks on this exciting journey across Ukraine, audiences can also look forward to other innovative productions in the theatrical landscape. For instance, the Lesya Ukrainka Theater is set to unveil its own intriguing performance, 'Sanatorium Zone,' with premieres scheduled for April and May. This adds to the vibrant cultural scene and showcases the diversity of contemporary Ukrainian theater.