War and Play: A Clown Odyssey of Survival
Written by Danielle Levsky
Directed by SMJ
Devised and originally performed by Lex Alston, Ania Upstill, SMJ, and Danielle Levsky
War and Play is an interactive show that explores human resilience in the face of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, rendered through the transformative power of clown.
Our story follows the journey of three clowns—Vira, Nadiya, and Lubo. Vira and Nadiya are two imaginative clowns and life partners in love. Lubo transforms through a variety of characters throughout the show - a street performer, a Ukrainian soldier, a lamplighter, an injured neighbor, a Russian soldier, a storyteller, and ultimately, thee
The story begins in a city in Ukraine, when Vira and Nadiya run into a street performer. They all delighted in their shared tricks and performances, but the sudden onset of shelling shatters their world, the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The clowns navigate their city's ruins with the audience's help. They seek refuge in an underground metro, finding solace in shadow puppetry and music.
Eventually, the clowns flee their homeland, experiencing devastating loss as they leave. They end up at the US-Mexico border at the Ukrainian refugee center, finding joy and camaraderie amidst the uncertainty.
War and Play had its workshop production at the Lincoln Center in June 2023 as part of National Queer Theater’s Criminal Queerness Festival. I was commissioned to create this show through the National Queer Theater because the 2023 Criminal Queerness Festival focused on sharing stories by queer Ukrainians. Creating War and Play through clown opened up a unique prism through which I could grapple with and illuminate the stark realities of Russia's war on Ukraine, the piercing pain of displacement for refugees, and the profound grief of loss for those we love.
War and Play was also selected to be the opening show of the inaugural PhysFestNYC at the Stella Adler Center in January 2024, featuring NYC’s best physical theater performances, workshops, and talks
Reviews
“The three colorfully-garbed performers in the show, none of whom spoke, were skilled at, well, clowning around: tap-dancing, playing the accordion, putting on red noses… In the most memorable scene in the hour-long play, Vira and Nadiya had lured members of the audience to join them in a spontaneous promenade, a kind of conga line — only to be confronted by Iwasa as a stern Russian soldier – which made the situation feel more menacing.”
Jonathan Mandell, New York Theater
“Watching the clowns search for missing friends, scurry from one temporary safe place to the next, and try to maintain some small sense of joy amidst the destruction, I feel ill over how little I've even heard about Ukraine lately, even though it's still on fire… The highlight of the show for me is its third performer, Mariko Iwasa... She's a delightful presence — light and specific, eager without being cutesy, her body both meticulously controlled and very free, her face serious but open… I head home thinking of her, performing stand-up in a room full of soldiers a long time ago, during a different war.“
Sara Holdren, Vulture
Meet the Team Behind War & Play
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SMJ
Director & Deviser
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Lex Alston
Clown & Deviser
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Ania Upstill
Clown & Deviser
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Danielle Levsky
Writer, Clown & Deviser
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Mariko Iwasa
Clown & Deviser
Photos by Lawrence Sumulong @ the Lincoln Center, Ken Burns, Katherine Benitez. Promo video editing by Anthony Polk.
Original Workshop Production Team (June 21, 2023)
The 5th Annual Criminal Queerness Festival, presented by National Queer Theater
David Rubenstein Atrium at Lincoln Center
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Nadiya - Danielle Levsky
Vira - Ania Upstill
Lubo - Lex Alston
Director - SMJ
Stage Manager - Katherine Bahena-Benitez
National Queer Theater Founding Artistic Director - Adam Odsess-Rubin
Head Curator / Cultural Consultant - Sashko Krapivkin
Intimacy Director - Ema Zivkovic
Dramaturgy - Begum “Betsy” Inal
Production Manager - Brittany Coyne
Scenic & Props Designer - Dan Daly
Sound Designer - Tani Kahn
Costume Designer - Jules Peiperi
Lighting Designer - Moneé Stamp
Video Designer - Hannah Tran
Casting - Joseph Hayes
Voiceover - Henri Sudy