On June 24, 2022, on the main stage of the university, the actors of the Poltava Academic Regional Ukrainian Music and Drama Theater named after M. V. Gogol performed a children’s play “All Mice Love Cheese” for temporarily displaced families. The actors showed an extremely funny and bright interactive fairy tale. A good story tells about mouse pups, fluffy “Romeo and Juliet” from the cheese kingdom, who had to reconcile their parents and save their love. The vivid action based on the work of the Hungarian writer Dyul Urban was designed with original scenery and choreography by the main artist of the theater Iryna Klimenchenko and choreographer Svitlana Zakirova. The main characters were embodied by star actors of the theater.
“The specifics of productions for children both in pre-war times and now remain extremely difficult. Children are the most demanding viewers, it has always been so. A child must believe in what is happening on the stage, and this fairy-tale truth must be so vivid, sincere and kind enough to capture the child and lead them into the children’s world, considering the fact that many children now lack faith in fairy tales,” – noted the director-producer of the play, Honored Artist of Ukraine Vladyslav Shevchenko. Earlier, a troupe of Gogol Theater actors visited the Poltava Polytechnic with an interactive fairy tale for children and adults.
“I think that what we are doing now is extremely important, especially for children. It shows us as a people united and ready to help each other, we are all for each other. For them, everything that is happening now is very stressful. Children may not understand what is happening, but their lives have changed anyway. The children respond very well to the fairy tales that we are showing them now. They feel that they have returned to their childhood, which, unfortunately, they lost. After the fairy tale, they have smiles again,” – commented actress Yuliana Romanova.
“I watched it with pleasure and will attend such events again. I don't think the smile left my face. Everyone sympathized with the characters. We arrived from Avdiivka in mid-March. Life is divided into “before” and “after”, but such events, good conditions of stay help to calm down. My children motivate me the most,” – shared her impressions migrant Liudmyla, who came to the performance with her 3-month-old and 6-year-old daughters. She says that she also involved her eldest daughter in cultural events when she was still an infant.
After the performance, student volunteers of Poltava Polytechnic presented young viewers with sweet gifts.
“From the very first day, the university has been involved in helping internally displaced persons. We have organized places in dormitories for people who have suffered from armed aggression. A psychological service has been working at the university since the first day. Employees of the Department of Psychology and Pedagogy organized round-the-clock psychological support for all IDPs, including children. Scientists and students of the Department of Physical Therapy and Ergotherapy also work with war victims. They attend rehabilitation sessions in our laboratories.
Since the first days, a volunteer headquarters has been operating at the university. It also collects aid for displaced people – everything that people need, and in accordance with needs, aid packages are formed, which are distributed to displaced persons. The university works with international organizations and directly asks to provide the help that is currently needed: medicine, food products, care and hygiene products, etc. We received humanitarian aid with medicines and medical products from a German charitable organization. We also recently received humanitarian aid from our Polish friends – Poznań University of Technology. Student volunteers formed sets and distributed them to all those in need.
Along with this, the university independently provided free food for all internally displaced persons in the university canteen. We also cooperate with the global organization World Central Kitchen and Poltava producers of natural products, who also prepare free lunches for migrants – they are delivered to dorms in the afternoon.
The university organized an on-site reception by employees of social security agencies, so that IDPs could receive a certificate as quickly as possible without standing in queues for many hours. Every week for almost three months, residents are consulted by British doctors on the basis of the campus.
To adjust and defuse the situation, we hold various activities with children on the territory of the university, at all sports locations, across all active faculties as well as educational and research institutes. We hold master classes, workshops, and leisure days. Walks in our recreation area are always available; teachers conducted tours of Poltava and introduced people to our wonderful city.
Poltava musicians and actors respond to offers of charity performances and offer them themselves. It is especially joyful to see the children after the performances – they smile again.
It is very valuable to know that compatriots feel safe and comfortable at our university.
I thank the friends of the Poltava Polytechnic – Poltava Gogol Theater for the pleasant emotions, for the good mood. We sincerely thank you for the play and the extraordinary performance. I am sure that today not only children received positive emotions, but also adults! Children’s smiles make it possible to believe in the nearest victory. We are pleased to invite the Gogol Poltava Music and Drama Theater to our university! Come to us more often, grateful viewers are waiting for you,” – thanked the first vice-rector – Vice-Rector for Scientific and Pedagogical Work and Economic Development of the university Olena Filonych.
Previously the displaced people and the mayor awarded the staff of the Polytechnic with citations.
It should be recalled that a concert of the “Poltava” Song and Dance Ensemble for temporarily displaced persons was held at the Center for Culture and Student Creativity of the National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”, and artists of the Poltava Regional Philharmonic together with a graduate of the university held a concert “With Ukraine in the Heart”.
Media Center of
National University “Yuri Kondratyuk Poltava Polytechnic”
