Year‑Long Training Transforms Veterans Into Stage Performers Over a year the cast completed four months of basic movement exercises, learning to communicate, fall, roll and work without prosthetic limbs before advancing to body development and rehearsals that integrated prosthetic removal and replacement into the visual language of the show [1]. The program, organized by the Theater of Veterans, offers theatrical training and performance opportunities as part of physical and psychological reintegration for former combatants [1]. Participants include both war veterans and drama students who rehearse Olha Semioshkina’s adaptation of Ivan Kotliarevskyi’s “Eneida,” a satirical reworking of Virgil’s “Aeneid” [1].

Prosthetic Limbs and Scars Symbolize War Injuries Onstage Every male performer portrays Aeneas with prosthetic limbs and visible scars, while female performers play Dido, mirroring the veterans’ amputations, burns and sight loss as they search for a new homeland [1]. The visual symbolism ties personal trauma to the classic epic’s themes of exile and survival, reinforcing the production’s message of resilience as the conflict enters its fourth year [1]. Actors recount their own war experiences, such as a leg loss from a drone strike and Andrii Onopriienko’s 2023 artillery‑induced blindness, during the final act [1].

Air‑Raid Blackout Forces Cast To Perform By Flashlight During the performance an unexpected power outage triggered by an air‑raid alert plunged the theater into darkness, yet the cast continued under flashlights, maintaining the narrative flow [1]. The improvised lighting heightened the emotional impact and earned a standing ovation from the audience despite the emergency [1]. This moment underscored the production’s commitment to perseverance under fire, both literally and figuratively [1].

Director Urges Fellow Veterans To Reengage With Civil Life After the show, director Olha Semioshkina addressed veterans in the audience, urging them to “come out, do something, live every single minute,” emphasizing theater’s role as both psychological and physical rehabilitation [1]. She highlighted the importance of creative expression in rebuilding identity and purpose after combat [1]. The call to action aims to inspire broader veteran participation in cultural and civic life [1].

Theater of Veterans Provides Rehabilitation Through Drama Founded by members of Ukraine’s Territorial Defense Forces, the Theater of Veterans serves as a platform for wounded service members to develop new skills and share their stories publicly [1]. The initiative blends artistic training with therapeutic goals, offering a structured environment for recovery and community integration [1]. Its latest production demonstrates the model’s effectiveness in fostering resilience and public awareness of veterans’ sacrifices [1].