BLITZ INTERVIEW: Polina Polozhentseva - playwright (barista, mother, refugee) - 'Military actions do not alter a person’s personality; they erase it.'

Her plays about Ukraine are full of humor, even though audiences sometimes don't laugh - because 'you can't laugh about war.' "The war can only end by Russia accepting defeat and paying reparations."

Where are you from? And where are you now? Doing what?

I am a Ukrainian whose life was transformed by the full-scale Russian invasion of my country. In 2022, I lived in Kyiv, a city I had long dreamed of residing in, but I only managed to live there for one year. I am originally from Zaporizhia, which is now only 60 km away from the Russian troops. Half of the Zaporizhia region, including the Sea of Azov, is under occupation. In early 2022, I decided to leave Ukraine. As a single mother, my most important task, of course, is to provide a safe environment for my daughter who is 17 years old (she was 14 at the time of the invasion). We moved to London together where we currently reside. I continue to work as a playwright and have also taken on the role of a ‘barista’.

What kind of studies and work did you do previously? Where?

In Ukraine, I worked in the Parliament, focusing on public communications while simultaneously writing for various theaters. One of my last projects in Kyiv was the production of my play about sexual and psychological abuse in marriage, titled "Grandma and Grandpa Are Having Sex." Antonina Romanova directed the project, and the premiere was scheduled for April 2022. Unfortunately, it never took place, as most of the team went to fight at the front, and one of the main actresses fled to Poland.

(photo from "Grandma and Grandpa Are Having Sex", the Kyiv Playwright’s Theatre)

How has the war in Ukraine changed your life? You personally?

Military actions do not alter a person’s personality; they erase it. I speak from the experience of a witness. In the first few weeks, I was confined to a bomb shelter. It’s incredibly difficult to reconcile that with the fact that you once vacationed in Egypt or enjoyed a romantic date on a rooftop. Time flows differently in such circumstances. I wrote a piece titled "Save the Light," some scenes of which are based on verbatim accounts I recorded in the bomb shelter. This text has been performed in European theaters and even in Hong Kong. Interestingly, the audience did not respond to my jokes. At one point, two elderly women were arguing, and one threatened to call the police. When I asked the audience, "Was it funny?" they replied yes, but when I pressed further, they explained that they could not laugh at a tragedy.

(Premiere of the play “Save the Light”, Barons Court Theatre, London)

What has surprised you most about Ukrainians these past couple of years? Good or bad?

I am not surprised by the bravery and creativity of Ukrainians; I have known this since 2014. What has surprised me is how quickly the instinct for self-preservation can cease to function. Many of my friends in Ukraine have stopped fearing explosions for illogical reasons. For example, some say, "I am a good person, so nothing bad will happen to me." I believe this mindset is misguided. We wouldn’t run onto a six-lane highway or jump out of a plane without a parachute, would we? I’m not suggesting that we all move to another country; rather, we should take greater care of our safety. I read somewhere that in Ukraine, civilians die twice as often as soldiers. I often remind my mother who is still in Ukraine of this which irritates her greatly. Thankfully, a few months ago, she left Zaporizhia and now lives in Ternopil with her sister.

What are your future plans?

I want to move beyond merely surviving and start living fully. In Ukraine, I had my own place and a stable job that allowed me to travel and feel more free. In England, I live pay cheque to pay cheque due to the high cost of living. I also want to leave my barista job because it does not bring me joy. This year, I have two theater projects planned in London, including a performance based on my play “Fan of the War”, which will be shown in two theaters. The premiere is set for February 25 at the Camden People’s Theatre. This heartfelt narrative explores how war lives within each of us, focusing on a young Ukrainian woman who embarks on an affair with a Frenchman who struggles to understand her experiences. There is a lot of humor in the play, but I have already prepared myself for the possibility that, once again, the audience may not laugh.

(A fragment from “Fan of the War”, In Kyiv at the Week of Contemporary Plays festival)

How do you see the war ending and Ukraine returning to a ‘normal life’?

Much depends on how the war concludes. It is not in the best interest of Ukrainians to freeze the conflict. Russia must face an official defeat and pay reparations. Otherwise, it will not mark the end of the war but merely a pause. When we eventually win, I believe we will all crave a long, restful break. I already want that.

Tell us one thing you don’t think people abroad know about Ukraine – but they really should?

Ukrainians have nothing in common with Russia; we are entirely distinct from them. We have our own separate culture and history. I often find myself explaining these obvious truths to the British.