Giraffe mons

Artistic expression during times of conflict takes on a singular dimension, particularly in towns exposed to the front lines. In Kharkiv, air attacks come without warning, even before the alarms can sound. Despite this climate of constant insecurity, the Afanasyev State Puppet Theatre remains an invincible bastion, enduring repeated assaults without ever being destroyed. The show, performed for the first time in France, features a giraffe that lived in Kharkiv zoo during the Second World War. This story, seen through the eyes of a child and transposed in a fabulous and allegorical way, explores the twists and turns of war, with its fears and unfathomable solitudes. It provokes deep reflection, in adults and children alike, on the themes of war, compassion and mutual support.

Author: Oleg Mykhaylov (with the participation of Kostyantyn Soloveyenko); Director: Oksana Dmitrieva; Set Design: Konstantin Zorkin; Composer: Kateryna Palachova; Actors: Anton Glazunov, Oleksandra Kolesnichenko, Victoria Mishchenko, Lilia Oseichuk, Oleksandra Shlykova; Manager: Olga Dorofeeva; Sound: Petro Polskikov; Lighting: Dmytro Turukin

The show was created with the support of the Goethe Institute and the Maison Nuremberg in Kharkiv.