Ballet In A Theatre With An Air Raid Shelter: Kyiv’s “The Snow Queen”


In just over a month it will be three years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

As the war rages, life carries on, especially in the capital, Kyiv, where the front lines can feel distant and aspects of normality persist.

One example is the popular ballet The Snow Queen, which recently ended its Christmas run to a full house.

Well, almost a full house — that now means only 560 tickets, as that is the capacity of the air raid shelter where performances are held. It is a sobering reminder of the stark reality faced by Kyiv’s residents.

Photograph of a ballet performance of The Snow Queen at the National Opera of Ukraine.

The Snow Queen and her regiment of snowflakes

TIMES PHOTOGRAPHER JACK HILL

This adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen’s classic tale has undergone changes since the invasion began. Most notably, the original score by the Russian composer



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