Olga Braga's stark play Donbas, winner of Theatre503's international playwriting award, offers a grim portrait of a Ukrainian household as Russia's full-scale invasion of the region approaches in 2022. The tightly packed production, now running at the London theatre, creates a bleak microcosm of conflict within a cramped home.
The drama centres on Sashko, a young man recently released from a Russian jail, who clashes with his father Seryoga over how to respond to the looming threat. While Sashko is desperate to resist the invaders, his father is willing to adhere to Russian rules for the sake of survival. Tensions are further complicated by Seryoga's Moldovan girlfriend Marianca, who seeks moments of connection amid the rising hostility.
Directed by Anthony Simpson-Pike in his first production as artistic director, the show makes ambitious use of the small stage. Niall McKeever's set initially appears simple but dramatically tears apart as the invasion strikes. The cast includes Jack Bandeira as Sashko, Philippe Spall as Seryoga, and Sasha Syzonenko as Marianca, with Steve Watts and Liz Kettle as kind-hearted neighbours whose appearances offer a brief reprieve from the play's intensity.
Themes of heritage and belonging run through the narrative, with characters speaking of 'pure-blood' Ukrainians and shunning neighbours based on birthplace. The production finds its finest moments in small gestures of tenderness, contrasting with the play's frequent machismo and shouting matches. However, some secondary characters feel thinly drawn, and folkloric stories told by Sashko slow the play's urgency.
By depicting the random ugliness of war, Donbas reminds audiences that hope of a good death is perhaps just another story told to endure. The play is a thought-provoking addition to Theatre503's season, offering a human perspective on a conflict that continues to reshape Europe.
