“Bird in the Attic” Play About Abducted Ukrainian Children Staged in San Francisco

A performance of “Bird in the Attic”, based on a play by contemporary Ukrainian playwright Oleh Mykhailov, premiered in San Francisco. The production by the “Mandrivni Zory” (Wandering Stars) theater tells the story of a girl from Mariupol who was separated from her mother during the war, addressing the issue of the forced deportation of Ukrainian children to Russia.

This was reported by director Yelena Bilyak.

According to Biliak, the play is “a very emotional and highly compelling testimony of a war crime—the forced removal of Ukrainian children to Russia.”

At the center of the story is a girl from Mariupol who was separated from her mother and taken to Russia. She is not yet fourteen. The playwright deliberately does not reveal her name, leaving space for the audience to interpret her as a collective image of the thousands of Ukrainian children abducted during the war.

“It is only known that her name does not end in ‘-sha,’ as many names in the family of her new guardian, Masha, do,” the director notes.

Hiding in an attic, the girl records video messages in which she shares her memories, fears, and hope of returning home. The role of the main character was performed by Diana Yavorska.

“What is her name? Oksana? Khrystynka? Halya? Or perhaps, following modern trends, Daniela or Michelle? We do not know. But we do know something else. This girl, whose role was convincingly and emotionally performed by Diana Yavorska, refuses to give up despite everything. She ‘does not want to be a cockroach’; she does not show her tears. Her only defense is her stubborn refusal to forget her language, her home, her identity,” the review states.

It is also noted that the character of the guardian Masha is an artistic portrayal of Russian official Maria Lvova-Belova, who is associated with the policy of deporting Ukrainian children.

The performance is staged in Ukrainian with English subtitles, allowing it to reach a broader international audience.

According to the creators, the play also serves as a reminder to the world about the scale of the problem: thousands of Ukrainian children remain illegally taken to Russia.

““But this play is not about heroism or unbreakable resistance. It is about hope, about growing up, about first love, and about trying to comprehend horrific events. It is about humanity and memory, about how not to betray oneself. And it is also a reminder to the world: around 20,000 children are being illegally held by the Russian regime. Every adult bears responsibility to ensure they are returned home,” the director emphasizes.“, – наголошує режисерка.

It is especially emphasized that the “Wandering Stars” theater works on a volunteer basis, and all proceeds from the show go to help Ukraine, namely to support orphans. The production was realized with the support of the non-profit organization “Hromada”, the parish of the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception and the local Ukrainian community.

“The play makes us reflect on the fate of children abducted during the war and on how important it is for each of us to do everything possible to bring them back home,” the organizers conclude.