CRIME.MONO
A production by the independent Fulcro Theatre, based on a play by Ester Bol
Premiere at TMUNA Theatre on February 24, 2025, on the tragic anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
CRIME is an epic text by Ester Bol (formerly known as Asya Voloshina, whose plays have been successfully staged worldwide). This text was written in the first six months after Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. It embodies the horror of a person trapped in war, carrying the existential guilt for the crimes committed by their country.
CRIME.MONO is a monologue version of the original CRIME, focusing on the love story between a Russian woman and a Ukrainian man. She runs away—from herself, her identity, and her guilt—writing letters to the heart of the war, cursing everyone responsible for its beginning. It is a hopeless story about the impossibility of overcoming the catastrophe that is currently unfolding on the European continent. Russia unleashed this catastrophe, and it affects everyone. Some people simply have the privilege of ignoring it—for now.
This is a simple project with a crucial mission.
Two women, accompanied by violin and piano, tell the story of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine through the deeply personal story of the protagonist. Two women read a terrifying text. Two women speak directly and honestly about what is happening right now. Two women refuse to let us forget the most horrific episodes of this war. Bucha. Torture and execution of Ukrainian soldiers. It is still happening.
To our deep regret, the world speaks less and less about the catastrophe still unfolding in Ukraine. The world is tired and prefers to look away. We believe this is criminal. We believe that the mission of contemporary art today is to prevent people from closing their eyes to Ukraine’s catastrophe.
CREATIVE TEAM
Playwright – Ester Bol
Actresses – Nastya Gordymanova, Anya Grinfeld
Music – Nastya Gordymanova, Anya Grinfeld
Director – Dasha Shamina
Set Designer – Ksenia Sorokina
Choreographer – Polina Dreiden
Lighting Designer – Maksim Dov
Sound Designer – Andrey Mirny
Technical Director – Anton Troshin
Producers – Liza Shkolnik, Sonya Gromova, Anya Ginzburg
The performance is in Russian with Hebrew subtitles.
Duration: 1 hour 50 minutes, no intermission.
A portion of the ticket proceeds will be donated to support Ukraine.