Ukrainian New Winter Songs & Rituals by Word and Voice Theatre Centre @ Chagford

Nova Koliada

Christmas Rejoicing

Word and Voice Theatre Centre, Lviv, Ukraine at St Michael the Archangel, Chagford

20 January 2023

7:00 pm

In association with the Devon Ukrainian Association, St Michael the Archangel is pleased to be welcoming back Ukraine’s Word and Voice Theatre Centre for a very special concert. Word and Voice Theatre were last in Devon in August with their transcendent ‘Irmos for Ukraine’. Since then, they have continued to preserve and revitalise Ukraine’s cultural heritage while remaining an essential space for internally displaced Ukrainians as well as fundraising and providing necessary supplies for the people of Ukraine during these tumultuous months.

With the support of English patrons, Word and Voice have over the last four months created two new performances in Lviv in which displaced persons, widows, mothers of fallen soldiers have directly participated – ‘Under the Pear. Singing the marathon of peace’ and ‘For their own’. They have also launched a new theatre singing workshop for migrant children and continued their work on a new performance project about the famous 19thcentury Ukrainian philosopher Hryhorii Skovoroda, ‘Garden of Divine Songs. Skovoroda.’ The first performance of the project premeired in December onthe 300th anniversary of the philsopher-poet's birth.

With the onset of cold weather, Russia began to launch massive missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian power plants. Along with the rest of Ukraine, Word and Voice found themselves in the dark and cold. They bought a metal stove, firewood and a generator, and continued their work. They also became one of the "heating points" in the city of Lviv. As the Russian state continues to target Ukraine’s infrastructure, the Devon Ukrainian Association and Word and Voice are using this tour to raise funds for the Keep the Heat On campaign. All concert donations will fight the weaponisation of winter and the crimes against humanity committed by Russia through the continued heating of the Centre and its purchasing of essential supplies for the people of Lviv and Ukraine.

Additionally, this very special evening is presented on behalf of the many Devon sponsors and their families of displaced Ukrainians. The Devon Ukrainian Association, St Michael's and Word and Voice would like to thank these sponsors especially.

About Nova Koliada

Koliada, the ancient Slavic season of Winter songs and rituals, is once again upon us. A time to stroll the streets and sing the glory of our towns, cities and villages. A season of merriment and mirth, overshadowed this year by the Russian assault on Ukraine’s infrastructure. Yet, we do not lose faith. The news of the world’s rebirth is not dimmed.

Ukraine’s Word and Voice Theatre Centre returns to the UK with its new concert to celebrate the human spirit and the light that comes always out of darkness. Nova Koliada is a new performance of the ancient and eternal carols that Ukraine has sung for centuries to rejoice in this special season.

From all over Ukraine, Word and Voice has collected Christmas carols, Christmas psalms, and ancient spiritual hymns. Christmas Rejoicing is a reconstruction of Koliada festivities through these songs, in a performance that does not simply preserve them, but renews them like the world – reminding us that the light of the season lives within us all.

Actors:

Mariia Kmit

Nataliia Polovynka

Solomiya Kyrylova

Author of the idea and director: Nataliia Polovynka