ONU Theatre to Present Worldwide Ukrainian Play Readings Highlighting Realities of War

Ukrainian theatre artist Ganna Turlo is spending three weeks this month to share her vision, voice, and experience with Ohio Northern University Theatre Arts students as they prepare for the production of the Worldwide Ukrainian Play Readings project.

As the guest director for the 16th International Play Festival, Turlo seeks to humanize the realities of war for the ONU actors and stage crew.

Yet even as she guides their artistic journeys, her heart remains 5,000 miles away, where her partner is fighting on the front lines to defend Ukraine from the Russian invasion.

Turlo says it wasn’t an easy decision to take on this project, as she feels a deep responsibility to help ONU students and an American audience, understand what it’s like to be at war.

Launched after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, the Worldwide Ukrainian Play Readings project brings together a collection of monologues and dialogues written by contemporary Ukrainian playwrights.

Each short play explores themes of identity, resilience, and survival in wartime.

ONU will hold two performances in the Stambaugh Theatre at the Freed Center for the Performing Arts. The first will be held on Saturday, April 26 at 7:30 p.m., and the second one will be held Sunday, April 27 at 2:00 p.m.

To read more about the project, you can visit Ohio Northern University online by clicking here.