Surviving Mariupol: How a Young Couple Used Theater to Cope With Russia's Siege

Summary

An excerpt from James Verini's book "The Theater" tells the story of aspiring actors Liza and Dima, a young Ukrainian couple who coped with the Russian siege of Mariupol by turning their wartime experiences into a play. They took refuge in a Mariupol dramatic arts theater that became a haven for refugees, before the theater was ultimately destroyed by Russian bombing. The excerpt captures how civilians used art and performance as a means of psychological survival amid Russia's brutal assault on the city.