Written by Katia Haddad
Directed by Guy Retallack
Review by Eve Nugent
It is the summer of 1992 – one year after Ukraine has gained independence from the Soviet Union. One fateful night, the lives of Galina, an ambitious student from Moscow, and Steven, a smooth-talking Ukrainian naval officer, are crucially brought together. After a romantic summer in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol, they part ways, yet seem destined to live forever in each other’s shadow. Following acclaimed runs in Oxford and London, the beautiful, expertly told Mariupol comes to Edinburgh.
A decade later, in 2002, another chance encounter in a hospital rekindles their spark. Nathalie Barclay delivers a pitch-perfect Galina, capturing both her warmth and steely resolve – a woman shaped and scarred by devastating circumstance. Steve is brought to life by Oliver Gomm with charm and wit, capturing his evolving, maturing character over the years. Together, their palpable chemistry makes every moment electric, drawing the audience deeper into an intensely human story.
Once again, their paths diverge, until the atrocity of war forces them together – Galina’s nation is now the aggressor, destroying the land Steve calls home. Mariupol, where they first met, was brutally seized by Russia in 2022 – a crucial moment in the early months of a full-scale invasion. Amidst the fighting and relentless shelling, Galina returns in search of her injured soldier son, now under Steve’s command. They have known each other for 30 years – will he release her son?
Written with great sensitivity by Katia Haddad and drawn from personal memories of war and life in Ukraine, the show brings a vast tragedy of conflict to an intimate, human scale. As shared in an interview with James Stokes by Culture Calling, she wants her audiences to “understand the human cost of any war”. Directed skilfully by award-winning Guy Retallack, Mariupol is remarkably compelling and heartfelt, telling a difficult story with care, attention and emotional clarity.
Compelling and Heartfelt
Marirpol runs at Pleasance Courtyard
Running time: Sixty minutes without interval
Review by Eve Nugent (contact@corrblimey.uk)
An undergraduate French student at the University of Edinburgh, Eve has a diverse interest in theatre and performance. Her primary devotion is acting, predominantly at Bedlam Theatre with her fellow students, but also with French group ‘Les Escogriffes’ who perform annually at the French Institute of Scotland.
Her creative attention stretches also to classical music, as she enjoys playing the flute, piano and guitar. She thus looks forward to watching whatever the Fringe has to offer, irrespective of genre!
