The Ukrainian Institute London hosted a candlelit poetry reading event on March 9, 2012 to celebrate Ukraine’s greatest poet.
AUTHOR
Ukrainian Institute London
On March 9th, the Ukrainian Institute London hosted a Shevchenko Readings in London event marking the 198th anniversary of the birth of Ukraine’s greatest poet.
The informal candlelit event commenced with a moving performance by Molodyi Teatr London, followed by a number of songs performed by Ukrainian artists living in London including Taras Zhytynsky, Oleh Romaniw and Levko Tymoshchuk.
Readings of Shevchenko’s original texts and also translations in English and French followed. Guests had an opportunity to read their favourite Shevchenko works.
The room was candlelit, the microphones were switched off – the atmosphere was sincere, touching and soulful.
One of the participants later shared her thoughts about the event on the Ukrainian Institute London Facebook page (translated from Ukrainian):
‘The Shevchenko evening at the Ukrainian Institute was not only a success: it was a revelation. From when I was still a child I detested such events because they usually consisted of deceitfulness, falsehood and excessive dramatisation.
Yesterday evening the Theatre group put on a heart-rending performance. The room was candlelit, the microphones were switched off – the atmosphere was sincere, touching and soulful.
For the first time in my life I enjoyed listening to the works of [Taras] Shevchenko. […]’
‘This was a wonderful event performed straight from the heart by exceptional Ukrainians living in London. We would like to thank everyone who participated and inspired others by their readings and performance of Shevchenko’s great works,’ commented Andy Hunder, Director of the Ukrainian Institute London.
Discussions are now taking place regarding plans to mark the Shevchenko bicentenary in 2014.
