Premiere of the modern plastic performance «City» in Kyiv

On a spring evening, May 27, 2026, on stage the International Center of Culture and Arts «October Palace» - Premiere of the modern plastic performance «City» - based on the novel by Valerian Pidmogylny in Kyiv!

The plastic interpretation of Valeriyan Pidmohylny’s novel 'The City' on the contemporary Kyiv stage emerges as a sophisticated exploration of human nature within the conditions of aggressive urbanization. Instead of a traditional literary narrative, the audience is immersed in a space of corporeal metaphor, where every detail of movement reflects the protagonist's internal struggle. This performance masterfully translates the classical text into the realm of physical theater, emphasizing the psychological transformation of the individual under the influence of the metropolis.

The central axis of the production is the evolution of Stepan Radchenko’s body-from the natural fluidity of a rural youth to the mechanistic rigidity of an urban intellectual. The hero's choreographic vocabulary undergoes irreversible changes: soft, amplitudinous gestures are gradually displaced by fractured lines and syncopated rhythms. This plastic transition symbolizes not only social adaptation but also the painful loss of the authentic 'Self' in the pursuit of success.

The City in the performance acts not as a passive backdrop but as a dynamic organism embodied by an ensemble of actors. Living walls, crowding, and the pulsing rhythm of the crowd create a sense of inevitable pressure that shapes the hero's character. Radchenko's interaction with this collective body illustrates the conflict between individual ambition and the impersonal force of a society that consumes the weak and tempers the strong.

Female images in the play function as key markers of Stepan's emotional degradation, with each encounter possessing its unique rhythmic code. From the ephemeral plasticity of Nadiyka to the steely refinement of Rita, the audience observes love transforming into a tool for self-assertion. These relationships, told through the language of gestures, expose the cynicism and loneliness hidden behind the glitter of urban life.

The audiovisual design of the performance reinforces the sensation of an industrial symphony, where electronic beats intertwine with mechanical city sounds. Cold neon light and minimalist scenography create a sterile space where every shadow acquires dramatic significance. This combination of sound and light transforms the stage into a laboratory of human passions, studying the resilience of the spirit amidst reinforced concrete.

The performance actualizes existential questions raised by Pidmohylny a century ago, adapting them to the modern realities of the digital age. Today's Radchenko is each of us, seeking our place in the labyrinths of careers and social masks. The plastic form allows for bypassing the language barrier and speaking directly to the viewer's emotional experience, making the classic alive and relatable.

In conclusion, the Kyiv production of 'The City' is a triumph of physical theater, proving the enduring relevance of Ukrainian modernism. The hero's final gesture leaves the spectator in a state of reflection regarding the cost of success and the possibility of preserving humanity in a mechanized world. It is a performance that does not merely illustrate a book but creates a new, corporeal language for understanding our identity in the vortex of a great city.

"City" - a performance about the physical and psychological transformation of a young person in an urban space.

Age restrictions: 16+

Place: The International Center of Culture and Arts (October Palace),
Adress: Kyiv, Нeroyiv Nebesnoyi Sotnі Alley, 1