The Village Where No one Suffers by Polina Polozhentseva, The Brockley Jack Studio Theatre, 410 Brockley Road, London SE4 | until 28 February 2026. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by William Russell

Photo credit: Abbie Sage

The Village Where No one Suffers

by Polina Polozhentseva

The Brockley Jack Studio Theatre, 410 Brockley Road, London SE4 | until 28 February 2026.

⭐⭐⭐⭐ Review by William Russell

“An intriguing piece of magic realism.”

Set in a village in Ukraine round about now we fine Lukyana, played by Sofia Natoli, who has run away from a man she was possibly going to marry – she has been in Poland – to take refuge in her late grandmother's house in her home village. She is welcomed by a neighbour played by Nailah S Cumberbatch, who tells her things she did not know about her grandmother, who appears to have had amazing powers, and meets an ex-boyfriend played by Christopher Watson with whom she sleeps. It is a strange little play which left me bemused but admiring the skill of the actors who in the space of just over an hour conjure up a world where anything can happen. The creators feel they are saying something that matters about events in that beleaguered country after four years of war. Grandmother's powers as a witch appear to be why this is one village in Ukraine where nobody suffers. The play is a puzzle, but magic realism always has that effect, but the performances hold one's attention perfectly. A short stay on the Studio stage but one worth having taken a chance on.

Cast

Lukyana - Sofia Natoli
Pasha - Christopher Watson
Aunt Valya - Nailah S Cumberbatch
Voice over - Daniel Popescu

Creatives

Director -Valery Reva

Set – Kateryna Jarova

Translators – John Farndon & Keiia Kasiievska