DESCRIPTION:

The unique scenography of this performance was created with the participation of the people of Ukraine.
Buttons, symbolizing the lives of ordinary Ukrainians, intellectuals, artists, and cultural figures, were sent by Ukrainians from all over the country, including from occupied territories and abroad.

Each button represents a human life destroyed by the Soviet totalitarian regime. How many lives were cut short? How many unwritten books, unpainted pictures, uncomposed symphonies? How many unperformed roles, unproduced plays, and unborn children?

"The Game. Memory of the Future" is an attempt by renowned Ukrainian choreographer and director Kristina Shyshkaryova to reflect on past tragedies through the lens of contemporary dance and theater while building a dialogue with God.
The protagonists of the performance are a Child (Fate) and Death.

The director posed a provocative question:
"What if God isn’t as we imagine but is simply an ordinary child—lonely, bored, and frightened—whose only pastime is the 'button game'? Can we then be angry at the injustice of fate? Could we find a dialogue with such a God, and would we take responsibility to ensure that tragic patterns do not repeat in the future?"

She believes the topic of the Executed Renaissance is particularly relevant now for several reasons:

Restoring Historical Justice
The Executed Renaissance serves as a reminder of the need to speak the truth about a tragic past, particularly the crimes of the totalitarian regime.
Modern Ukrainian researchers and artists must revive the memory of these cultural figures, their creative works, and their tragic fates, revealing new pages of history to the public.
This contributes to fostering historical self-awareness among Ukrainians.

A Symbol of Resilience
The artists of the Executed Renaissance should stand as symbols of resilience and indomitable spirit in the face of repression.
They proved that even in the harshest conditions, it was possible to create, maintain faith, and remain true to oneself (without betraying ideals, staying honest, or tolerating baseness).
Today, their words and ideas resonate with new strength, empowering us in the fight for freedom and dignity.

Inspiration for Contemporary Art
The courage of the Executed Renaissance artists, their creative experiments, and their struggle for freedom of expression continue to inspire modern artists.
Ukrainian playwrights, filmmakers, and musicians often turn to the themes and imagery created by the Executed Renaissance artists, reinterpreting them within the context of today.

"The Game. Memory of the Future" is a profound and deeply emotional performative production that allows us to reflect on harrowing historical events in an entirely new format.
Through plastic and visual solutions, the voices of those who were forcibly silenced and whose lives were destroyed will resound once again.