“The village where no one suffers”
Project
Active 12 hours, 29 minutes ago
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The Village Where No One Suffers is a contemporary Ukrainian play by playwright Polina Polozhentseva. Blending drama, dark humour, folklore, and magical realism, it explores how war reshapes communities, personal identities, and the meaning of belonging.
The play follows Lukyana, a young Ukrainian woman who has built a new life abroad after leaving her homeland. Following the death of her grandmother, she returns to her native village in Ukraine to settle an inheritance. There she encounters a place unlike any other: a village that appears to have escaped the suffering and destruction affecting the rest of the country. As she reconnects with family memories and the people who remained behind, she is confronted with difficult questions about responsibility, freedom, and the ties that bind individuals to their communities.
While rooted in the realities of contemporary Ukraine, the play speaks to broader European experiences of migration, displacement, collective trauma, and resilience. Through the language of magical realism and folklore, it creates a powerful theatrical metaphor for societies facing crisis and transformation.
The play was selected for the longlist of the Aurora Drama Award in Poland 2026, recognising its artistic merit and its relevance to contemporary international audiences. This recognition highlights the work’s potential to engage audiences across cultural and national boundaries.
In February 2026, The Village Where No One Suffers received its English-language premiere at Jack Studio Theatre in London. Directed by Valery Reva, the production introduced the play to British audiences and theatre professionals, receiving positive critical attention for its distinctive theatrical voice, emotional complexity, and exploration of the human consequences of war. Reviewers praised the play’s combination of contemporary political realities with folklore and myth, as well as its nuanced portrayal of community, memory, and survival. The production was also nominated for a Standing Ovation Award by London Pub Theatres.
The play is currently available in Ukrainian and English and is ready for further international development. Its themes resonate strongly within the context of ongoing cultural dialogue between Ukraine and Poland, offering opportunities for meaningful artistic exchange and collaboration.
We are currently seeking Polish theatre partners, producers, festivals, and cultural institutions interested in developing the next stage of the project, including a Polish translation, staged readings, residency programmes, co-productions, and a full-scale Polish premiere.
The Village Where No One Suffers invites audiences to reflect on what holds communities together in times of crisis and what responsibilities individuals carry towards the places they call home. At a moment when questions of solidarity, identity, and collective resilience are central to European public life, the play offers a timely and deeply human perspective on these shared concerns.
Project info
The Village Where No One Suffers is a contemporary Ukrainian play by playwright Polina Polozhentseva. Blending drama, dark humour, folklore, and magical realism, it explores how war reshapes communities, personal identities, and the meaning of belonging.
The play follows Lukyana, a young Ukrainian woman who has built a new life abroad after leaving her homeland. Following the death of her grandmother, she returns to her native village in Ukraine to settle an inheritance. There she encounters a place unlike any other: a village that appears to have escaped the suffering and destruction affecting the rest of the country. As she reconnects with family memories and the people who remained behind, she is confronted with difficult questions about responsibility, freedom, and the ties that bind individuals to their communities.
While rooted in the realities of contemporary Ukraine, the play speaks to broader European experiences of migration, displacement, collective trauma, and resilience. Through the language of magical realism and folklore, it creates a powerful theatrical metaphor for societies facing crisis and transformation.
The play was selected for the longlist of the Aurora Drama Award in Poland 2026, recognising its artistic merit and its relevance to contemporary international audiences. This recognition highlights the work’s potential to engage audiences across cultural and national boundaries.
In February 2026, The Village Where No One Suffers received its English-language premiere at Jack Studio Theatre in London. Directed by Valery Reva, the production introduced the play to British audiences and theatre professionals, receiving positive critical attention for its distinctive theatrical voice, emotional complexity, and exploration of the human consequences of war. Reviewers praised the play’s combination of contemporary political realities with folklore and myth, as well as its nuanced portrayal of community, memory, and survival. The production was also nominated for a Standing Ovation Award by London Pub Theatres.
The play is currently available in Ukrainian and English and is ready for further international development. Its themes resonate strongly within the context of ongoing cultural dialogue between Ukraine and Poland, offering opportunities for meaningful artistic exchange and collaboration.
We are currently seeking Polish theatre partners, producers, festivals, and cultural institutions interested in developing the next stage of the project, including a Polish translation, staged readings, residency programmes, co-productions, and a full-scale Polish premiere.
The Village Where No One Suffers invites audiences to reflect on what holds communities together in times of crisis and what responsibilities individuals carry towards the places they call home. At a moment when questions of solidarity, identity, and collective resilience are central to European public life, the play offers a timely and deeply human perspective on these shared concerns.
