The Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theater in Kyiv is staging “Odysseus, Maeotis,” a theatrical adaptation of Homer’s ancient epic that recontextualizes its timeless themes through the lens of Ukraine’s ongoing conflict. The production combines professional performers with active-duty military personnel, including serviceman Daniil Mireshkin in the lead role of Odysseus. The play has faced multiple delays due to successive Russian attacks on the capital before its scheduled premiere.
Director Ivan Uryvskyi noted that the adaptation retains only minimal elements of Homer’s original text, instead constructing a new narrative that preserves the core arc of Odysseus’ journey home. The staging employs an austere aesthetic with darkened sets accented by neon lighting and projections across the actors. Traditional monsters from the epic—the Cyclops and sirens—have been reimagined as drones and robotic war machines moving across the stage. The play unfolds in parallel narratives depicting both Odysseus’ difficult voyage and the extended wait endured by his wife, Penelope, at home.
The production’s title references Maeotis, an ancient name for the Sea of Azov, drawing a geographic and thematic connection to Mariupol, a port city that came under Russian control following a 2022 siege. The play is based on accounts from defenders of that city who served with the Azov brigade, now integrated into the 1st Corps Azov within Ukraine’s National Guard. Playwright Oleksii Dorychevskyi, himself a member of the 1st Corps Azov, conducted a year of interviews with former prisoners of war to inform the script.
Actors in the production discuss how the adaptation resonates with contemporary Ukrainian experiences. Mireshkin emphasized how the mythological framework allows exploration of critical contemporary concerns, including the reintegration of military personnel into civilian life, the reclamation of occupied territories, and the restoration of Ukrainian identity. Actress Daryna Leheida, who portrays Penelope, connected the character’s experience of waiting to the circumstances of Ukrainian women separated from family members by war, describing the psychological toll of uncertainty and displacement that accompanies prolonged conflict.
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