Theater: Thread

“Thread_թել” is a performance-ritual, a journey, a path

Based on a personal story of transformation, exploration of the author's roots, family histories, Ukrainian and Armenian folk, and mystical experiences. This performative musical show includes movement, dance and live singing of Ukrainian and Armenian folk songs in the author's interpretations.

For the audience it will be a journey through the performer's subconscious into archetypal symbols, folk songs, rituals, dances, stories and fairy tales that are intertwined with various historical events and the eternal search for humanity.

Do we choose our own path and destiny? Or is the thread of fate woven in other worlds, and we are only the conductors of God's will? Are we connected to generations past and future? Do we repeat the fate of our ancestors? Or is every new life a clean slate? Do the stories of the past of people who have died influence the future of the living? Do we have a choice and a chance to change something in the present?

What do we lose when something new is born? What remains when the old dies?

In the performance were used elements of the 3T method (therapy, transformation, transcendence) - a system of performative training which includes body, voice and images, developed by the author.

Team

Evgeniya Melkonyan /Zena/ - author, performer

Ivan Harkusha - composer

Anabel Ramirez - co-director

Ulyana Osovska - video director

Svitlana Zmeeva - lighting

The work was created in the frame of Antonin Artaud Fellowship in Ukraine. The presentation in Vienna is supported by the European Union under the House of Europe programme.

Evgeniya Melkonyan — independent multi-disciplinary artist, facilitator and researcher. She was born in Kyiv. Has Ukrainian and Armenian roots. She received a psychological and economic education, at the same time she was engaged in dance and folk singing. Studied art and sound therapy, played Tibetan singing bowls, shamanic frame drum. She developed and conducted art therapy courses and meditation concerts. In 2022, she released her debut single "Dubrova'' with producer Dimigrant. In 2023, she was part of the Ukrainian Theater Company in Barcelona. In 2024 worked with swiss-french director Madeleine Bongard in the play “The Black hole”, created the video performance “Sisters of the Tree” during “Time Based mentorship program” (mentor Tatyana Tannenbaum). She has performed at festivals and participated in residencies in Ukraine, Armenia, France, Spain, Austria, Romania.

Currently, she studies music, engaged in choreography, Tribal dance and Indian Bharatanaty dance, performative practices. She continues to research Ukrainian and Armenian folk, influence of movement, singing and performative practices on mental health.

Entry: Free Donation