Liza creates theatre with Ukrainian Children
- Theatre
- Education in Art
Liza Bukina, born and raised in Ukraine, is a third-year student at the bachelor's course Theatre in Education in Zwolle. She uses her role as an Artisteducator to create theatre with children who have fled from Ukraine. In this story, Liza talks about the balance between art and teaching, living in a parallel universe, and the importance of following creative impulses immediately.
Making a difference for communities
Working with various communities, for whom you can do a lot as an Artisteducator, is one of the best aspects about the course Theater in Education. During her studies, Liza and three of her fellow students decided to set up a youth theatre group for Ukrainian children with war trauma. The name of the youth theatre group is Theatre Soloveyko (Ukrainian for nightingale).
Interaction is key for the Artisteducator
The bachelor's course Theatre Education equips you to become an Artisteducator, a role that Liza feels completely at home in. The curriculum is practical and socially engaged. For Liza, the course revolves around interaction: "I believe that having tea and engaging in conversation is already art. It's not always about creating a performance." This yearning for interaction is also fully realized in Liza's work with the youth theatre group Soloveyko.
A magical world for children
"The youth theatre group was born out of necessity," Liza indicates. "We wanted to give the refugee children at the Ukrainian primary school in Zwolle where I was teaching something different from their everyday things. The children miss their friends, their pets, grandparents. Making theatre gives them distraction. I want to be creative with the children. Through theatrical techniques, I help them understand their own view of the world. My main goal is to support them on this path, to share knowledge and experience."
During our classes, I hope the kids can express their emotions through imagination."
A parallel world
Liza recognizes that the kids are residing in a parallel universe: "I also live in two worlds. I am not fully Dutch and, of course, I remain involved in the war in Ukraine. As a result, I am constantly living in a world where there is war and peace at the same time. And that fragmentation sometimes carries over into other aspects of life." These are themes that Liza will explore further after her studies. "How are we connected as people, as countries? How do we influence each other? And how have we influenced each other if you look at history?"
Advice for future students
During her bachelor's course Theatre in Education, Liza learned to be both a maker and a teacher. Her advice for future students is to be open to the freedom that the programme offers. "Creativity is what matters most. Do anything that comes to mind right away! Even if it sounds straightforward, following your creative inclinations will always lead you to beautiful places."
More about the bachelor's course Theater in Education in Zwolle
