- April 1, 2025
- 10:10 pm
- Israel
The International Festival of “Other Theater” in Akko presents the unique play “There is No Such Thing as Someone Else’s War“, based on real stories of repatriates from Ukraine. The play will showcase the fates of women who found themselves at the center of two wars.
The play is performed in Ukrainian with subtitles in Hebrew.
Theater Festival in Akko: Return After a Break
After a break caused by the war, the International Festival of “Other Theater” in Akko https://www.accofestival.co.il/ will open its doors to audiences again from April 14 to 16, 2025. The festival returns not only with new theatrical performances but also with a unique event — the play in Ukrainian, “There is No Such Thing as Someone Else’s War”, which is the result of working with real documentary stories of repatriates from Ukraine.
Why was the festival moved to Passover?
The festival was traditionally held during Hol Ha-Moed Sukkot, but due to the war in 2024, the event was canceled. In 2025, the organizers decided to move it to Passover, which was an important step towards resuming cultural events in Israel. This decision highlights the importance of culture and art as a means to overcome difficult times.
What’s new in the festival program?
This year, festival-goers will not only enjoy theatrical performances but also become part of a new cultural event — a wine and chefs festival, which will take place in a culinary zone with kosher dishes, making it accessible to a wide audience.
Key points of the festival:
Dates: April 14-16, 2025
Main activities: theatrical performances, culinary events, music and art exhibitions
New events: a gastronomic festival and new theatrical projects
Play “There is No Such Thing as Someone Else’s War”
One of the central events of the festival is the play “There is No Such Thing as Someone Else’s War”, which tells the story of two repatriate women from Ukraine who found themselves in Israel during the October 7th war.
Documentary Stories of the Women
The plot is based on real stories of repatriates from Ukraine, whose lives were shattered by war. The play is based on the documentary testimonies of two women who, escaping one war, found themselves at the center of another. This is a semi-documentary piece reflecting their experiences and the questions related to war and its impact on people’s lives.
- Idea, direction, space, and musical arrangement: Mikhail (Misha) Kait
- Writing and dramaturgy: Yulia Olshanetska, Mikhail (Misha) Kait
- Consultation on space and costume design: Zhenya Shekhter
- Props production: Oksana Tavchev
- Technical support: Stav Parava, Alef Studio
- Participants: Alena Alymova, Stefania Stavitska
- Special thanks for cooperation to the organization Israeli Friends of Ukraine
The play was created with the support of the Israel Council for Culture and Arts, Rabinovitch Foundation, Jewish People’s Museum “Anu”, and Nadev Foundation, in collaboration with IEB — the Association of Independent Directors and Theater Creators, and White Theater — a multicultural theater project under the artistic direction of Mikhail (Misha) Kait.
Tickets for the play and other festival events can be purchased through the official Akko Festival website.
Director and Playwrights
The play was directed by Mikhail Kait, the director of the multicultural theater project “White Theater”.
More about “White Theater” can be read on its official page.
The play was written by Yulia Olshanetska and Mikhail Kait. They managed to create a production that not only tells the stories of two women but also raises profound questions about war, its consequences, and moral dilemmas.
A great big interview with the director, for those interested in learning more about the theater and the play) on the “Vesti” website.
Actresses and Their Roles
The main roles are played by Alena Alymova, a former Kiev resident who had a successful career in theater and film in Ukraine, and Stefania Stavitska, a repatriate who came to Israel before the war started. Both actresses will portray characters whose fates intertwine with the major themes of war, fear, and loss.
“We aim to show not only the experiences of our heroines but also raise questions about what war means to each person, and what it leaves behind,” — Mikhail Kait.
Language of the Play and Subtitles
The play will be performed in Ukrainian. For the convenience of the audience, the play will have subtitles in Hebrew, ensuring its accessibility to a broad audience.
How to Buy Tickets?
Tickets for the play and other festival events can be purchased through the official Akko Festival website.
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