THE HAGUE
Sasha Denisova

Author of the text:

Saša Denisova

Director:

Galin Stoev

Dramaturge:

Mira Todorova

Set designer:

Boris Dalchev

Costume design:

Kancho Kasabov

Composer:

Emilian Gatsov-Elbi

Music arranger:

Georgy Georgiev-Antika

Vocal coach:

Georgy Georgiev-Antika

Choreographer:

Marion Darova

Lighting design:

Ilya Pashnin

Costume design assistant:

Tsetska Ivaylova

Wig / makeup:

Rozalina Peycheva

Cast:

Iliana Kodzhabasheva

Yevgeny Prigozhin: Julian Vergov

Ramzan Kadyrov: Vasil Draganov

Vladislav Surkov: Dimitar Nikolov

Sergei Shoigu: Yavor Valkanov

Nikolai Patrushev: Plamen Dimov

Sergey Surovikin: Hristo Petkov

Valentina Matvienko: Sofia Bobcheva

Yuri Kovalchuk: Velislav Pavlov

Putin: Radena Valkanova

The Girl: Kremena Deyanova

Lawyer James Nice: Darin Angelov

Prosecutor Julian Anderson: Radina Kardzhilova

Soldier 1: Stelian Radev

Soldier 2: Hristo Terziev

Photographer:

Boryana Pandova

Duration:

2:10

“Ivan Vazov” National Theatre

The play “The Hague” by the Ukrainian author Sasha Denisova is a grotesque, funny, and sinister “phantasmagoria” based on real events and people related to the Russian war in Ukraine. The text interweaves real elements of the political and ideological reality of the Russian Federation together with fragments of documentary war stories and family tragedies to create a non-linear narrative that constructs an image of the war through the emotional world of a little girl. Written shortly after the onset of the military aggression, it had its premiere in February 2023 in Poland, and in June Sasha Denisova staged it at Arlekin Players Theatre in Boston, USA. Galin Stoev’s production was the first premiere of the 2023/2024 theatre season at the National Theatre.

“This text is an impossible encounter between Shakespeare and Monty Python. A kind of version of the (future) trial against Putin and his entourage at the Hague tribunal for war crimes and crimes against humanity plays out before our eyes, taking place in the mind of a child. A child who will stand as the main accuser. In this sense, “The Hague” is a theatrical fantasy – both comic and chilling. It is the first time I have worked on a theatre project that has such a direct and definite connection to our immediate reality. I am exploring the possibility of a harmonious or, on the contrary, paradoxical coexistence between politics and poetry, documentary and musical, myth and current news. This gives rise to emotional and intellectual vertigo and forms a field of reflection that is purely artistic in nature. In this playing field, the fragments of the “normality” we have lost because of the war come into direct interaction with each other. This builds a kind of labyrinth for the viewer to explore the limits of their personal understanding of good and bad. Just as a child, forced by circumstances to become an adult, does”. Galin Stoev, director

Icarus Award 2024 for BEST PERFORMANCE

Icarus Award 2024 for Scenography by Boris Dalchev (scenography) and Kancho Kasabov (costumes)

Nomination for the Icarus Award 2024 for Directing by Galin Stoev

Nomination for the Icarus Award 2024 for Debut of Kremena Slavcheva

Nomination for the ASKEER Award 2024 for Leading Female Role of Radena Valkanova for the role of Putin

Nomination for the ASKEER Award 2024 for Supporting Female Role of Iliana Kodzhabasheva for the role of Margarita Simonyan

The play is performed with Croatian and English subtitles.

Foto & Video galerija