A few days ago, the Volkstheater Wien in Vienna hosted the premiere of the international theatre production UKRAINOMANIA — Revue of a Life, a joint project of the Volkstheater Wien and the Maria Zankovetska National Theatre in Lviv. The play, based on the life and writings of Austrian author Joseph Roth, combines historical and contemporary motifs, exploring issues of identity, war and memory.
Performances are also planned for 29 January and 13 February 2026, and the production has attracted the attention not only of the theatre community but also of the Russian Embassy, which has published its response in several languages. The Embassy of the Russian Federation in Austria issued a statement of protest, claiming that the play allegedly contains “one-sided political interpretations” and accusations against Russia, in particular references to “Russian bombs” destroying Ukraine. It described such wording as “a set of propaganda clichés” and “fake news” about events in Donbas. Russian diplomats also expressed dissatisfaction that the conflict is presented unequivocally as Moscow’s responsibility, arguing instead that it should be “objectively balanced” between the parties.
Ukrainian and European theatre critics emphasise that Ukraïnomania offers a contemporary and emotionally charged artistic perspective on war, memory and solidarity, aimed at an international audience and dialogue between cultures. The production is performed in Ukrainian and German with subtitles, making it accessible to a wide audience.
Under the Russian Embassy’s post, Ukrainians and members of the theatre community began posting hashtags and messages en masse, reminding readers that Russia is an aggressor, responsible for the full-scale war against Ukraine.
The Ukrainian premiere of the play is scheduled for 10–12 July 2026 in Lviv at the Maria Zankovetska Theatre.