New play about Russia’s attack on Ukraine to premiere in Halifax

A play focused on news events unfolding a world away will be taking the stage at Halifax's Neptune Theatre.

Premiering March 21 on the Fountain Hall Stage at the Argyle Street performing arts centre, Ballad of the Motherland follows the story of a Canadian blogger who finds herself kidnapped in the militarized zone of the Donbas, by a Russian separatist, who believes she is a Western operative.

The play was written by local playwright Annie Valentina, based loosely on true events, and “stands as sharp commentary on the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine,” according to a news release. 

“It was coincidentally as Russia invaded Ukraine a year ago that Annie Valentina’s new play, Ballad of the Motherland, was having a workshop week, culminating in a reading,” says artistic director Jeremy Webb in the release. “It was a rare opportunity for a theatre to program a play that is so very relevant and reflective of the current world situation and I did not want to miss that chance.”

Russia’s active invasion of Ukraine during the workshop process set the stage for Valentina and her team to re-write and tweak the story to focus more on current events.

For tickets or more information on Ballad of the Motherland, visit the Neptune Theatre website.