Dancing on bones': Mariupol theatre to reopen with staging of Russian fairytale

"The Mariupol Drama Theatre, destroyed in a Russian airstrike in 2022 while hundreds of civilians were sheltering in its basement, is to open its doors again, with Russian occupation authorities heralding the reconstruction as a sign of renewal, while former actors at the theatre denounced the reopening as dancing on bones. The Kremlin has made the reconstruction of Mariupol a calling card of its rule in occupied Ukraine, but Moscow's"

"oversight is accompanied by arrests or exile of critics, along with property seizures that have stripped thousands of Ukrainians of apartments they legally owned. The Mariupol Drama Theatre is due to reopen by the end of the month with a performance of The Scarlet Flower, a Russian fairytale, after being rebuilt almost from scratch over the past two years. The theatre is being reborn together with Mariupol."

"that CHILDREN had been painted in block letters in the square in front of it. At least a dozen people are confirmed to have died, but the real number is likely much higher. Russia has denied hitting the theatre and claimed the damage was caused by an explosion detonated inside the building, but several independent investigations have suggested Russian air bombs were responsible. Amnesty International concluded that the devastation was likely caused by Russian forces deliberately targeting Ukrainian civilians"

The Mariupol Drama Theatre, destroyed in a 2022 Russian airstrike while hundreds sheltered in its basement, has been rebuilt and will reopen with a Russian fairytale. Russian occupation authorities present reconstruction as renewal while former actors call the reopening dancing on bones. Moscow markets Mariupol's reconstruction as a showcase of control, alongside arrests, exile of critics and property seizures that stripped thousands of Ukrainians of legally owned apartments. The theatre strike, despite CHILDREN painted outside, killed at least a dozen people with the true toll likely higher. Russia denies responsibility; independent investigations and Amnesty International say Russian air bombs or deliberate targeting likely caused the devastation.

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