Kherson is spoken about today in different languages — documentary, testimonies, figures. The project «Planet Kherson, Or Draw Me a Dragon» speaks about it in the language of art.
When a city becomes a planet, and children’s dragons turn into liaisons between countries, a story is born that goes beyond the stage.
This initiative unites professional artists and Kherson residents for whom creativity is not a profession but a way to speak about their city during the war.
For Kherson this is not just a play, but an attempt to preserve shared memory, support one another, and speak through the experience that changed the lives of thousands.
The details of the MOST project were told by its authors and participants.
The ArtPole agency initiated a stage production dedicated to Kherson. The format combines theater, video, music, and documentary stories in a metaphorical form.
The play shows the city through the eyes of those who live there and those forced to look at it from afar.
«We touch on all events: the occupation, the city’s liberation, what is happening up to today. Among our participants are many who went through the occupation, however we try not to put traumatic experience at the center of the narrative», – said the agency director Myroslava Hanyushkina.
Work on the play began in August 2025 with the support of the International Renaissance Foundation. From the start, the team decided not to involve Kherson residents in an already finished project, but to create it together with them.
Residents’ stories formed the basis of the script, and the text was formed gradually through meetings, conversations, and trips to Kherson.
«We didn’t want to just bring a script and say who reads what, but to create a play based on their stories and their vision», – Myroslava said.
The team came to the city several times, talked with people, listened to their memories, and recorded stories. The script was written by director Olia Mykhailiuk.
All characters have real prototypes, and the play also has a documentary component, but it is presented through a fairy-tale form so as not to traumatize but to support. The authors consciously do not put traumatic experience at the center of the narrative.
The professional team includes Polish sound artist Tomasz Sikora and musician Dana Vinnytska, their participation became possible with the support of the Polish Institute in Kyiv. The visual part is worked on by Kherson artist Olia Olshanska.
Local historian Oleh Lyhovyd and volunteer Maryna Krutiyenko also joined the project. Other Kherson residents who have left or are currently serving in the Armed Forces of Ukraine may also join. They will work remotely.
Among the Kherson residents in the project are three main heroines: eight-year-olds Lilia, Nina and Sofia. It is the child’s perspective that helps to speak about difficult things metaphorically.
The first working title referred to «The Little Prince» and sounded like «Planet Kherson, Or Draw Me a Lamb». Later, dragons appeared in this story.
During work on the project it turned out that one of the play’s heroines makes kind dragons that can blink. Then they learned that Sofia also creates dragons, each unique in color, shape and character.
«Making my dragons calms me down», – Sofia shared.
Later the director’s friend from Kherson, who now lives in Bulgaria, showed these dragons to acquaintances in the USA. In response came a video from 10-year-old Kherson resident Artem, who misses his native city in Seattle and also makes dragons, albeit from LEGO.
«At some point I myself believed that dragons live in the marshes. No one has seen them, but everyone knows that they are there. And they protect our shores», – director Olia shared.
Thus the lambs gave way to dragons, and the play took shape: it tells about the city and the islands, about losses and faith, about a destroyed bridge and unbroken hope, about children who sculpt dragons while adults learn to be brave.
According to the authors, there will be no classic sets. The space will consist of different surfaces onto which video will be projected. It will include Olia Olshanska’s drawings, her memories of Kherson, the Dnipro marshes and the Antonivskyi Bridge.
In March, the team plans a dress rehearsal in Kherson, after which they will head to Ternopil. A performance is scheduled there on March 24. Part of the video will be recorded during the trip, and in April they plan an online screening of the video version.
Further, the authors are considering the possibility of presenting the project in Kherson as well. This is a living process that continues to develop together with the people.