“Mariupol Drama” in Israel: a performance by surviving actors of the Mariupol Theater — tour June 1–6, 2026

The documentary play “Mariupol Drama / (orig. Ukr. “Маріупольська драма”)“ is being brought to Israel in early June 2026. This is a theatrical project created by surviving actors of the bombed Mariupol Theater — a production about the events of February–March 2022, where, as stated in the description, “there is no conjecture — only truthful reality.”

The text of the poster emphasizes: the Russian airstrike on the drama theater building in Mariupol became one of the most tragic war crimes. Even two large inscriptions “CHILDREN” on both sides of the building, as stated in the announcement, did not stop the strike.

Tickets for “Mariupol Drama” are already available —

https://nikk.kassa.co.il/announce/85455

What the production is about and why it is structured as a “testimony”

On stage are the eyewitnesses themselves — Mariupol actors who play not fictional characters, but themselves. During the blockade days, they were in the theater building and, along with those who took shelter there, experienced the siege of the city.

The action begins with the heroes introducing themselves to the audience, after which the play unfolds as a “chain of extremely tense events.” According to the poster text, the viewer also becomes a participant in what is happening — this is an important part of the director’s decision.

The production uses:

• personal belongings of the actors, which they managed to take out of the shelter;

• video and photo materials shot during the blockade.

And here it is important to explain why we are even posting this poster on the site: for the Israeli audience, such tours are not just a “cultural event on the calendar,” but a form of memory and conversation about the war, which in Israel is also felt very closely, through people, families, repatriation, aid to Ukraine, and personal stories. Therefore, NAnews — News of Israel | Nikk.Agency publishes this announcement as a testimony — so that in Israel they know that they can come, hear live eyewitnesses, and support the conversation about what happened in Mariupol.

After the performance, a creative meeting of the troupe with the audience is planned.

Authors, troupe, and production team

The play was written by Ukrainian writer and playwright Oleksandr Havrosh — based on collected testimonies.

The play was directed by Yevhen Tyshchuk, who, as stated in the description, decided to tell the world the truth about the war crime through the prism of theatrical art and preserve the memory of the victims of Mariupol.

Actors:
Vera Lebedinska, Olena Bila, Ihor Kitrysh, Matviy Kitrysh.

Director and production team (according to the poster):

• playwright — Oleksandr Havrosh

• director — Yevhen Tyshchuk

• musical director — Hennadiy Dibovsky

• choreographer — Hennadiy Dibovsky

• sound — Oleksandr Frolov

• lighting — Hennadiy Dibovsky

• video engineer — Lidiya Krasnovska

• costumes, makeup — actors

Theater after Mariupol

The poster separately states: after the destruction of the building in Mariupol, the troupe moved to Uzhhorod (Western Ukraine), and the theater was renamed “THEATER WITHOUT A ROOF”.
Chief director and artistic director — Hennadiy Dibovsky.

Language, duration, age

• the production is in Ukrainian with Russian subtitles;

• duration — 1 hour 20 minutes;

• 12+.

Tour schedule in Israel (June 1–6, 2026)

Tickets

Tickets for “Mariupol Drama / Маріупольська драма” are already available —

https://nikk.kassa.co.il/announce/85455

What happened in Mariupol: dates and figures to understand why it is called terror

After the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, Mariupol quickly found itself under siege. The city systematically lost basic necessities: water, heat, communication, access to medicine. People went into basements and sought shelter in large buildings — where at least there were walls and a chance to survive the shelling.

One such shelter became the Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theater in Mariupol. Civilians flocked there — hundreds of people, including children. In front of the building, the word “CHILDREN” was written in large letters on the ground — on both sides, so it would be visible from the air. This was a maximally direct designation: civilians inside.

Key date of the strike

Around this tragedy, specifics are important:

• March 16, 2022, an airstrike was carried out on the theater building.

• As a result, the theater was destroyed, and people inside were trapped under the rubble.

How many people were in the theater

Due to the blockade conditions, an exact count is impossible, but in testimonies and reports, one thing is constantly mentioned: there were hundreds of civilians in the building, and in some estimates — up to 1,000+ people, because the theater became one of the largest shelters in the city center.

How many died

There is also a range with exact numbers, but it still speaks of one thing — this is a mass death:

• an estimate of about 300 dead is often mentioned (voiced by Ukrainian sources);

• separate investigations and reconstructions of events mentioned a figure of about 600 and more;

• some organizations emphasized: the confirmed minimum is lower, but the real number is likely significantly higher, because many remained under the rubble and a full check was not immediately possible.

So we are not talking about “dozens,” but about hundreds.

Why it is called terror against civilians

Because the strike hit a place that:

1. was a civilian shelter,

2. was marked “CHILDREN” and therefore clearly indicated the presence of civilians,

3. was in a city where people almost had no options for salvation.

When a shelter with the inscription “CHILDREN” is destroyed, it is perceived not as a “mistake,” but as a demonstration of the principle: there are no safe places. This is how terror works as a method of war — intimidation and breaking civilians through a strike on the most vulnerable, so that fear becomes a weapon.

Tickets for “Mariupol Drama / Маріупольська драма” are already available —

https://nikk.kassa.co.il/announce/85455

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