“ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE SUN”

There are two ways to live: you can live as if nothing is a miracle;

You can live as if everything is a miracle.

Albert Einstein

May 30, 2015, the Second Cycle of our "Socio-cultural Inclusion Program" was completed with the performance of the play "On the Other Side of the Sun" during the Festival "Arsenal of Ideas".

The plot of the play is based on the illustrations to the book "Sole Retrovato" by the Czech children’s books author Štěpán Zavřel. The events are unfolding on the other side of the Sun, where on the still undiscovered planet lives a boy Andriyko. One evening sun disappeared, and Andriyko, along with his friends, brother and sister set out on a search for it ... The trip taught them not only to overcome the darkness and fears but also to find love, courage, sincerity, responsibility and mutual assistance in their hearts.

Since September 2014 till May 2015 we worked on the project under the leadership of Olena Leonenko-Głowacki. All the team of renowned Ukrainian dancers, choreographers, drama teachers, designers, voice coaches, teacher of playing the percussion instruments and many others worked with children and helped this cycle become a great success.

This year's performance engaged 38 children in difficult life circumstances, as well as several children of Dniprovskyy and Darnytsia districts of Kyiv. All of them tried on the role of dancers, singers, musicians, actors, photographers and filmmakers. Surely, the project helped children to learn themselves and their body better, discover and develop their artistic talents. The guests were delighted to witness it.

We were pleased to see Maryna Poroshenko, The First Lady of Ukraine, among the spectators. During her visit to our Centre, she watched our rehearsals and promised not to miss the first night. Also Barbara-Maria Monheim, founder of the German-Polish-Ukrainian Society, Mykola Knyazhytskyy, Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada Committee on Culture and Spirituality, Mykola Kuleba, Commissioner of the President of Ukraine for Children's Rights, and other distinguished guests, as well as children of the “Our Kids” Centre, not involved in the “Inclusion” project, parents, our friends and everyone who cares about the fate of these children came to support our young actors. 

"Art is the best medicine for children who have experienced trauma. It gives them the opportunity to rehabilitate and reintegrate into society,"- said project coordinator Julia Fediv.

Promo Video:

Full Version of the Play:

Booklet: