New West Theatre presents Barvinok

By Ry Clarke - Lethbridge Herald Local Journalism Initiative Reporter on October 11, 2022.

New West Theatre will be presenting Barvinok, a semi-autobiographical story from Edmonton playwright Lianna Makuch on October 13 – 22 in the Sterndale Bennett Theatre.

The piece examines the historical struggles and resiliency of the Ukrainian people, told through the lens of a woman who is tasked with going back to her baba’s homeland to recover a family journal.

“Hania’s grandmother reveals to her that she has left behind a mystery, a missing piece of their family history, and asks her to return to Ukraine. As she arrives, she finds herself on the edge of the ongoing war in eastern Ukraine in search of those secrets,” said Makuch. “The play is largely inspired by my own personal family history, and also a research trip that I did to eastern Ukraine in 2017.”

Travelling all over the country, including five kilometers of what was then the frontline of the ongoing war, Makuch interviewed with people in Ukraine to help shape the characters that were created for the play.

“It has been meticulously and closely developed with the Ukrainian people,” said Makuch. “I am just so honoured that people were so open and willing to share their stories with me in order to bring them to a Canadian audience.”

For Makuch the piece is an inspiration, noting the strong love for country and people among those she talked with.

“When we were doing interviews with people in Ukraine, especially the veterans, there was a lot of laughter and I think that’s a human experience. The sentiment that was shared with us was that they cannot break our spirits, because if they break our spirits, then there is no hope,” said Makuch. “It is more relevant than ever because that aspect of World War II and exploring Ukraine’s history in the context of war helps us understand Ukraine’s situation when the play takes place in 2017 and what is happening in our current world today.”

Connecting Canadian audiences to a situation across the globe, Barvinok’s tour will also connect Makuch with her own heritage.

“We presented the play in Edmonton this past week, and I am heading to Canmore tomorrow, and then we are having our finale of the tour closing in Lethbridge,” said Makuch. “Which is nice to bring the story back to Lethbridge because my grandmother, who wrote this journal, the first place they landed in Canada when they emigrated after World War II was there. That is where my Canadian story, my families, starts. It is all coming full circle in a way.”

Running until the 22nd, Barvinok will use traditional Ukrainian music and instruments to delight audiences and tell a rousing piece on the plight of war and the effects on a country through time.

“I hope people will learn and feel what the Ukrainian spirit really is. This spirit of resiliency and hope,” said Makuch. “They are fighting and I think that is evident in our world’s currant circumstances. I hope that people will walk away from this feeling what a gift the Ukrainian spirt has offered and the people who have been involved in this project.”