Ukraine Unbroken – Arcola Theatre, London

Writers: David Edgar, David Greig, Cat Goscovitch, Jonathan Myerson, Natalka Vorozhbit (translated by Sasha Dugdale)

Directors: Nicolas Kent and Victoria Gartner

Ukraine Unbroken is a night of five short plays about modern Ukraine, tracing the history from the Maidan Uprising to the present day. All these are woven together through the personal memories of actor-musician Mariia Petrovska. It is a largely heavy night at the theatre, but one that feels earned due to Petrovska’s entire teenage and adult life being dominated by war in her mother country.

The five short plays vary in style, but all emphasise the great injustice of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Some do so more successfully than others and avoid lecturing the audience on the history and morality of the events. Instead, they embrace the complexity of the choices made by Ukrainians under impossible circumstances.

Where David Edgar’s Five Day War shines in its subtle takedown of political machinations, Jonathan Myerson’s Always is far too unnuanced in how it leverages history to make its point. Where emotion is layered and complex in Natalka Vorozhbit’s Three Mates (translated by Sasha Dugdale), it is one-note in Cat Goscovitch’s Taken. Sadly, it seems that the disparity in the quality of the scripts was obvious to director Nicolas Kent. As a result, Always and Taken transpire as if they were given little attention in rehearsals.

Three Mates, directed by Victoria Gartner, on the other hand, is a beautiful monologue executed expertly in all aspects. The script directly challenges the audience with brutal realism woven together with love and insecurity laid bare. The directing brings balletic activity to a text that could easily be interpreted statically. Ian Bonar is extraordinary as Andriy and captures a full and complex life in a remarkably short time, and all is tenderly lit by Matt Eagland. Along with Petrovska’s bandura playing and beautiful singing, Three Mates is the pinnacle of the night and should become a mainstay of drama school showcases.

Michael Taylor’s costume work embraces the messiness of wartime life across all five plays. The standard of acting is universally high across the cast. Over the course of five plays, there are some weaker roles, but those same actors inevitably go on to deliver unstoppable work in the next piece. Daniel Betts, David Michaels, and Sally Giles shine as three alternate heads of the body politic in Five Day War. Jade Williams and Clara Read carry Taken across the line with commitment.

Not all of Ukraine Unbroken’s five short plays can stand up on their own, but those that can are expertly thought out and emotionally riveting. Weaving them together through Petrovska’s eyes is a bright touch that avoids making the show feel disjointed. Although some pieces are lacking in power and refinement, Ukraine Unbroken is a well-structured, emotionally powerful night at the theatre.

Runs until 28 March 2026