SAUMUR, France, July 7 (Reuters) – Inside a packed circus tent in central France’s Loire valley, Ukrainian acrobat Anastasiia Mazur delights the gang along with her balletic routine from a suspended ring.
Mazur, 31, fled her homeland weeks after Russia invaded, one in every of practically a dozen acrobats, clowns, jugglers and contortionists who responded to a French theatre director’s supply of refuge and the prospect to placed on a present to lift consciousness of the warfare.
“I am right here and my household is in Germany,” Mazur stated in an interview in between rehearsals. “The warfare would not cease and we would like extra folks to find out about it. I hope it should finish quickly.”
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The newly fashioned troupe has known as itself ‘zirka!’, which means star in Ukrainian. Some left family members behind in Ukraine, others arrived with their kids and belongings they might carry.
The present is an exhibition of hope and freedom, its organisers say. In some acts, the performers put on military-style camouflage fatigues and drape themselves of their nationwide flag.
“The present is about telling what’s at the moment taking place in Ukraine in a light-hearted method,” stated stage director Gerard Fasoli. “The viewers could make up their very own model of the story from what we give them.”
Vyacheslav Iroshnikov stated he had agonised over leaving his nation within the face of Russian aggression. In the long run he and his companion, a fellow circus performer, fled along with his two kids.
“Half of me (was) like ‘OK, it’s important to keep’ and half of me (stated) ‘OK, you might have household, it’s important to maintain it’.”
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Reporting by Stephane Mahe; Enhancing by Richard Lough and Richard Chang
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