L’Oeil Epissé Sur Ame Pure Theatre Company presents: Vanya is Alive
Russian artists confront the realities of life under an oppressive regime through the story of a grieving mother
Written by Natalia Lizorkina | Directed by Ivanka Polchenko
Omnibus Theatre, 4 – 8 February
“It’s universalist themes resonate with brutal regimes across place and time” The Financial Times
Echoing the current political situation in Russia, Vanya is Alive delivers a harrowing exploration of truth, resistance and humanity amidst the repression of an authoritarian regime. The play tells the story of Alya, the mother of a soldier, whose world is ripped apart upon hearing the news of his death at war. Written and produced by an all-Russian creative team with all seventeen parts performed by actor Nikolay Mulakov, it follows Alya’s long and painful journey to the truth which becomes a mirror for a nation grappling with lies, propaganda and manipulation. Initially believing he would return from a place ‘where peace is going on’, she slowly starts to uncover the State’s web of deceit before becoming a victim to it herself after a harmless act of protest – an attempt to honour her son’s death – lands her in prison, where she experiences firsthand the brutality of a system determined to silence dissent and maintain its stranglehold on its people. Vanya is Alive unflinchingly confronts the personal and societal costs of war, propaganda and systematic cruelty and questions the price of truth, freedom and personal responsibility in an oppressive society.
Vanya is Alive was written in March 2022 in the wake of the invasion of Ukraine. Though the location of the play isn’t specified, the audience will be able to identify the setting as modern-day Russia. It’s currently impossible for the play to be performed in Russia, but the play text has been performed as a reading in Kazakhstan, Israel, France, Spain, Serbia, Georgia, Germany, Sweden, Finland, as well as a critically acclaimed run at the Edinburgh Fringe in 2023.
Director of the show Ivanka Polchenko said, ‘‘We came together on this project to share our lived experience and to give a voice to those who are unable to speak. This is not just Alya’s story, it’s a story about humanity. The play echoes the broader humanitarian crises of our time, shedding light on the devastating effects of war and repression — not only on individuals but on the fabric of a society that is both complicit and victimized. We want to challenge audiences to reckon with the price of survival in the face of systemic violence, but also show how even in the darkest times, the human spirit strives for justice and truth.”
L’Oeil Epissé Sur Ame Pure is an independent theatre company based in France. Founded by the director Ivanka Polchenko, it is dedicated to works exploring various theatrical languages and questions of storytelling in which the actor becomes a co-creator of the play.
Running Time: 60 mins no interval | Suitable for ages 16+
Company information
Director: Ivanka Polchenko
Writer: Natalia Lizorkina
Set concept: Ivanka Polchenko and Ksenia Peretrukhina
Lighting designer: Eli Marsh
Cast: Nikolay Mulakov
Listings information
4 – 8 February
Omnibus Theatre, 1 Clapham Common North Side, London SW4 0QW
Tues – Sat, 7.30pm
£18 – 16 (concs)
Booking: Via website or Phone: 020 7498 4699
Social media
Twitter: @OmnibusTheatre
Instagram: @omnibustheatre
Facebook: OmnibusTheatre
TikTok: @omnibustheatre
#vanyaisalive
Supported by Pushkin House, Exchange Theatre, Lubimovka Festival