Calgary-based Ukrainian theatre Strum UA returns to West Village stage with Lost & Found
Anna Lupeko and Snizhana Gukasian-Korobeinkova, two Ukrainian artists who emigrated to Calgary in April 2023 and launched a new Ukrainian theatre company in the city called STRUM are presenting a new show, Lost & Found at the West Village Theatre through June 15. (Photo courtesy STRUM UA Theatre)
Strum UA, a Calgary theatre company of Ukrainian theatre artists, is back with a new show.
Lost & Found, written by Laura J. Cutler, blends English with Ukrainian monologues to tell the story of Kateryna, a Ukrainian immigrant.
'This play dives into the emotional, psychological, and cultural challenges of starting over in Canada,' the company says on its Instagram page.
'From language barriers to hilarious misunderstandings, from deep struggles to hope and connection, this story captures the real-life journeys of people from around the world who now call Canada home.'
The Muze, Calgary, Sept. 7, 2024
The Ukrainian cast of The Muze at Calgary's West Village Theatre. (Photo: Mariia Shcherbyna)
Lost & Found is directed by company co-founder Snizhana Gukasian-Korobeinikova, who talked about the company's experience since it was founded one year ago in Calgary by Gukasian-Korobeinikova and Anna Lupeko in a story the duo wrote for Critically Speaking, the newsletter of the Canadian Theatre Critics Association.
In it, they explain what the company name means.
'The name 'Strum' in English evokes the search for melody,' they wrote, 'while in Ukrainian, it symbolizes a powerful flow of energy driven by creativity and inspiration.
'United by this dual meaning, the name reflects the theatre's mission: to bridge Ukrainian traditions and Canadian society through the transformative power of theatre.'
Company members have worked with a variety of Calgary arts organizations, including Workshop Theatre Society, The Collectors' Gallery of Art, West Village Theatre, Scorpio Theatre and Calgary Arts Development, which has provided some funding for Lost & Found, to find its theatrical footing in a new country and new language.
'Starting life anew in a foreign country isn't easy, especially with the trauma of war,' said Gukasian-Korobeinikova. 'My first year in Calgary was about adjusting and learning about the local theatre landscape. I participated in various productions as an actress to better understand the city's cultural context and theatre management.'
Lost & Found opens Thursday at the West Village Theatre on 10th Avenue S.W. and runs through June 15.
Tickets are available for purchase via e-transfer to strumuatheatre@gmail.com. Please include your name, date, and the number of seats you wish to reserve in the payment description.
You can also buy tickets through Strum UA's Instagram page.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Ottawa Dragon Boat Festival returns
Ottawa's annual Dragon Boat Festival is taking place at Mooney's Bay this weekend. CTV's Camille Wilson caught up with some of the attendees.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Vancouver artist behind Google Doodle for National Indigenous Peoples Day
The Google Doodle for June 21 commemorating National Indigenous Peoples Day was created by Vancouver-based Tahltan artist Alano Edzerza. If you open Google on Saturday, art by a Vancouverite will show up on the homepage. The Google Doodle for June 21 commemorating National Indigenous Peoples Day was created by Vancouver-based Tahltan artist Alano Edzerza. Titled 'Celebrating Totem Poles,' the graphic depicts wooden animals shaped like the letters in Google—a frog, wolf, raven, eagle, bear, whale and thunderbird. Edzerza's art has been displayed in galleries around the world, and he even designed gear for Dutch athletes during the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver. Now, his work will be seen by anyone in Canada who makes a Google search. 'More than artwork, totem poles are deeply symbolic narratives carved into wood. They tell stories, commemorate events, or represent a family's lineage and crests. Many of these crests feature animals that represent kinship, identity and family history,' reads the webpage about the doodle. 'Colonization threatened totem poles with bans on various cultural practices, like the Potlatch, a ceremony where poles are raised. Today, beautiful totem poles are symbols of survival and resistance to cultural encroachment.' Doodles are special Google logos that mark holidays or commemorate important people. Famous British Columbians who have been featured in Google Doodles include Terry Fox and Harry Jerome.
CTV News
an hour ago
- CTV News
Worldwide French music celebration hits high note in Halifax
Musicians are pictured performing in the Halifax public gardens as part of Fête de la musique on June 21, 2025 (Vanessa Wright/CTV Atlantic) Haligonians joined a worldwide celebration Saturday when they enjoyed the sights and sounds of this year's Make Music Day event. 'In French, it's called 'Fête de la musique' because it's a French initiative,' says Melanie Koehnemann, the culture and communications officer for Alliance Française. 'It was born in France in the 80s.' Performances took place at two Halifax locations this year, one at Public Gardens, and the other at a Northwood Care retirement facility. Music fan A music fan claps along during a performance at Fête de la musique in Halifax public gardens on June 21, 2025 (Vanessa Wright/CTV Atlantic) Koehnemann says the event has a history of bringing music outside for everyone to celebrate, anywhere. 'The idea is to propose something different, something accessible and free, because there is no cost to this event,' says Koehnemann. The celebration brought together artists of different genres from the francophone community for the public to enjoy. 'The whole idea of this music is to have people sing and perform it outside – amateurs, professionals,' says musician Suzie Quackenbush, who has performed at the event for about ten years. '(I sing) a lot of folk and I will alternate between English and French.' Robert Brushedd – a musician and member of Alliance Française – also took centre stage at public gardens, performing with his guitar. 'What I did play is just stuff that I've been playing in my apartment over the last while, and I had the guitar since 1983,' says Brushedd. Koehnemann says seeing people from different backgrounds of different ages enjoying Fête de la musique is what they strive for all year. Performances at the Halifax public gardens and Northwood Care retirement facility will wrap up Saturday at 7:15 p.m. music festival A crowd watches a performance at Fête de la musique in Halifax public gardens on June 21, 2025 (Vanessa Wright/CTV Atlantic) For more Nova Scotia news, visit our dedicated provincial page
