Ukrainian Theater Stages Wartime Reimagining of Homer’s Odyssey with Active-Duty Soldiers

A prominent Kyiv theater has transformed Homer’s ancient epic into a contemporary commentary on Ukraine’s ongoing conflict, with the production “Odysseus, Maeotis” set to premiere in the Ukrainian capital. The staging features professional actors alongside active-duty servicemen, including Daniil Mireshkin, who portrays the warrior king Odysseus and serves in the military. The reimagined narrative explores themes of return—of soldiers to civilian life, of occupied territories to Ukraine, and of national identity—drawing direct parallels between the mythological hero’s journey and the experiences of those affected by Russia’s invasion.

Director Ivan Uryvskyi has stripped Homer’s original text almost entirely, retaining only the core narrative arc of homecoming while constructing the production from scratch. The staging employs stark aesthetics with neon light bars and projections across darkened sets, replacing classical monsters like the Cyclops and sirens with modern instruments of warfare: drones and robotic war machines that traverse the stage. The play unfolds simultaneously through Odysseus’ arduous voyage and Penelope’s anguished vigil at home, mirroring the dual experience of combatants and those waiting for their return.

The play’s title references “Maeotis,” an ancient designation for the Sea of Azov, once considered the edge of the known world. This geographic reference anchors the production to Mariupol, the port city that fell to Russian forces following a 2022 siege, and the play draws extensively from accounts by Azov brigade defenders, now integrated into the 1st Corps Azov of Ukraine’s National Guard. Playwright Oleksii Dorychevskyi, himself a member of the 1st Corps Azov, conducted a year of interviews with former prisoners of war to inform the script; approximately 600 Azov servicemen remain in Russian captivity according to the Corps.

Actress Daryna Leheida, who performs the role of Penelope, emphasized how the character’s enduring wait connects to Ukrainian women who maintain hope while confronting powerlessness and despair. She characterized the production as speaking to “temporarily occupied land” awaiting restoration and to children and families experiencing the psychological toll of prolonged conflict. The premiere has been repeatedly postponed due to successive Russian military attacks on the capital.