The event, which began on Sunday, is held under the motto "Unmasking."
In an interview for the krakowculture.pl website magazine, the director of the festival, Nadiia Moroz-Olshanska, explained: ”It was originally going to mean the symbolic taking off of masks to mark the end of the pandemic."
She added: "The war has shown in no uncertain terms that Russia has taken off its mask to reveal its true face of an aggressor. Ukraine has also revealed its true face, which the international community perhaps wasn’t expecting.”
The featured companies hail from such cities as Kyiv, Kolomyia, Vinnytsia, Poltava, Donetsk, Mariupol, Luhansk, Sievierodonetsk, Khmelnytskyi and Sumy.
‘A great privilege’
Moroz-Olszanska told the media that some of the drama companies taking part in the Kraków showcase had lost their premises as a result of the war.
She added: “It is a great privilege for us that despite their huge difficulties, including some companies’ forced evacuation to other towns, so many Ukrainian theatres have come to Kraków.”
Several Polish and Hungarian companies are also participating in the event. Its programme includes discussions with directors and actors after the performances.
The festival, held for the 9th time, runs until September 5.
Monday is day 187 of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
(mk/pm)