On the first weekend of May, Culbaba Theatre was delighted to take part in Ethno Echo, a cultural event held at Brighton Unitarian Church that brought together artists, makers, performers and visitors from many different countries to celebrate Ukrainian heritage.
The event created a welcoming space where guests could explore exhibitions, discover traditional crafts, enjoy homemade food and learn more about Ukrainian culture through conversation, creativity and shared experiences. Visitors joined us from across the UK and beyond, including guests from Norway, Lithuania, Slovakia, Turkey, Ghana and many other countries.
As invited performers, Culbaba Theatre presented a programme of traditional Ukrainian spring ritual songs known as hayivky. These ancient songs were traditionally performed outdoors to welcome spring, celebrate renewal and bring communities together after the long winter months.
Rather than watching, many guests joined traditional circle dances, folk games and interactive singing. Moments like these remind us that traditional culture is alive when people gather, participate and connect with one another.
We are grateful to the organisers of Ethno Echo for creating such a warm and inspiring event, and to everyone who joined us throughout the day. It was a privilege to share a small part of Ukraine's rich cultural heritage with so many curious and open-hearted people.
Like many Ukrainian cultural events taking place around the world today, Ethno Echo also supported an important charitable cause. We were honoured to contribute our performance to an event that combined cultural celebration with practical support for people affected by the ongoing war in Ukraine.
Thank you to everyone who sang, danced, asked questions and shared the experience with us. We look forward to seeing you again at future performances, workshops and cultural events across the UK.
