Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Theater of Russian Drama presents a festival of Ukrainian culture featuring a cycle of four plays performed in Russian and live dubbed in English.

Ward Of The Manor, 8 to 10 September

A new translation of Ivan Turgenev’s comedic drama Fortune’s Fool, Ward Of The Manor tells the story of Olga Korina, who left her family’s country estate as a young girl. Returning seven years later with her new husband, state official Pavel Yeletsky, a celebration for the newlyweds leads dark secrets to be revealed and lives to be changed forever.

My Mocking Happiness, 11 to 12 September

Based on Anton Chekhov’s personal correspondence with his wife Olga Knipper-Chekhova and close friend Lika Mizinova, Leonid Malyugin’s play My Mocking Happiness comes alive with intimate and personal detail as the letters reveal the writer’s complex inner life and discuss his timeless dramas Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard.

Life’s Little Nothings, 13 to 15 September

Based on the short stories of Anton Chekhov, Life’s Little Nothings comprises A Daughter Of Albion, A Tripping Tongue, Difficult People, A Happy Man and The Wallet, with each of the five episodes separated by brief interludes of classic Russian romance tunes.

Don Juan, 17 to 19 September

Adapted from Tirso De Molina’s classic tale by poet Lesya Ukrainka, Don Juan offers an original, authentically Ukrainian take on this timeless story of conflict between freedom and authority. In a departure from the original, it introduces Ukrainka’s semi-autobiographical depiction of a young woman selflessly devoted to the Don.