Ukrainian Theater in Lübeck: Experience escape stories live!

Ukrainian Theater in Lübeck: Experience escape stories live!

The Lübeck Ukrainian Free Theater (LUFT) has presented impressive performances in recent months, using the power of theater to capture the themes of escape and arrival in an aesthetic way. Under the direction of director Maksym Ievlev, the play “The Story of the Escape Animals” was performed, which was adapted from the “Animal Tales” by Don Nigro. *taz* reports that Andrii Pielin's baboon in this production speaks Russian, which clearly reflects the cultural and linguistic experiences of refugees on stage.

The theater project, which consists of refugee Ukrainians, has proven to be a kind of therapy. Actress Svitlana Fly and Angela Kapinos emphasize that the rehearsals were not only about learning lines, but also an opportunity to overcome fears and build relationships. With simple but creative props, such as supermarket shopping carts, LUFT shows that you can do a lot with little. The performances take place in changing locations without a fixed stage and are held in both Ukrainian and with projected German translations.

Planned performances and the role of the theater

The next performances are already scheduled: “Zhadan’s Land” will be performed in Lübeck on November 9th, followed by “The Story of Escape Animals” on February 7th, 2026 in Hanover and probably on February 21st, 2026 in Hamburg. Ievlev, who previously led his own ensemble in his hometown of Charkiv, has made it his mission to show refugees in their new roles without arousing pity. The theater is intended to create space for dialogue and cultural exchange, which is important not only for the actors but also for the audience.

This approach is reminiscent of similar international projects such as the **Woven Theater Project**, which also deals with the emotional and cultural lives of refugees. Workshops are offered there that promote access to emotions and self-empowerment - approaches that are also being replicated in Lübeck. The art of theater becomes a valuable tool for integration and community building.

The importance of theater in society

LUFT not only draws attention to the specific problems faced by refugees, but also contributes to the cultural enrichment of the region. Theater offers a space for exchange and discussion and helps to ease the often painful process of arrival. Every performance is an invitation to experience the stories of escape up close and to deal with the challenges that come with it.

At a time when theater is in greater demand than ever, this project shows how creative expression can contribute to healing. Theater can serve as a dialogue and platform to build empathy and connect society - an important task that LUFT fulfills with every performance.