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14 OUR LIFE • December 2025 NASHi Experimental Theatre Club: Sharing Ukrainian Theatre with the World In the heart of every Ukrainian beats a love of freedom and our culture. That culture is ever-changing and adapting in modern Ukraine. We see it in the vibrant new colors and styles of vyshyvanky from contemporary brands like Etnodim, Foberini, and Gunia; re-interpretations of traditional dishes by chef Yevhen Klopotenko; and remixes of folk classics by musicians like Go_A. Today’s Ukrainian artists understand that expressing themselves and our unique culture in crea - tive new ways is the essence of freedom and the most effective way to show the world what Ukraine stands for. Kyiv’s NASHi Experimental Theatre Club was established in the midst of war in 2023 to give young Ukrainian theatre artists a platform to create work that reflects their lived experiences in innovative new ways. In partnership with the New York institution La MaMa Experimental Theatre Club and its resident company CultureHub, NASHi cre - ates opportunities for these artists to experi- Natalie Pawlenko , UNWLA President The NASHi team with director Romana Soutus (at center). ment with theatre practices not usually taught in Ukrain - ian conservatories and, through the power of livestream, to perform for an international audience. NASHi’s pro- duction A Legacy in Motion captivated the audience at the UNWLA Centennial Celebration on October 19 ( see our story on page 6 ). NASHi was founded by Romana Isabella Soutus, an award-winning actress, playwright, and producer with family in the Ukrainian diasporas in the U.S. and Argen- tina. Romana came to Ukraine in 2019 and began to im- merse herself in the creative scene in Kyiv. The pandemic helped her realize that she needed to help Ukrainian the- atre artists bring their work to broader audiences. The war solidified that commitment. Romana was inspired to name the nascent project “NASHi” while working on her documentary video series Diaries in Exile on the Ukrainian–Polish border during the first month of the full-scale invasion. While speaking to refugees who were fleeing the initial horrors of the war, she was frequently asked, “Чи ви наші?” meaning “Are you one of ours?” The expression gave Romana the im- petus to create an experimental theatre company that would bring to life stories helping both artists and audi - ences feel that they were among their own. NASHi’s first project was “Кабаре на Кордоні,” also known as “Downtown Variety: Ukraine Edition,” a live- streamed cabaret performance that assembled five Ukrain- ian theatre ensembles and artists to create short theatri- cal performances exploring the shared theme of crossing borders. In collaboration with La MaMa and CultureHub, the performance was live-streamed for international au- diences, and it garnered rave reviews from the Ukrainian public and media. Since then, NASHi has produced count - less events, including educational workshops with interna- tionally celebrated theatre directors, screenings of seminal theatre pieces from the La MaMa archives, and spontane- ous street performances, among others. In 2024, the U.S. State Department recognized the value of the NASHi concept and awarded the company a substantial grant from the Ukraine Cultural Heritage Response Initiative – Resilience Building Component. The State Department was eager to support experimental theatre in Ukraine, understanding that the arts are a vi- tal means by which a nation defines and expresses itself
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