A “Museum in Exile”: Restoring the Mariupol Theater in Occupied Ukraine

On March 16th, 2022, 20 days after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces bombed the Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theatre in Mariupol, Ukraine. The theatre, which served as one of the key landmarks in the city, was sheltering around 1,000 civilians at the time of the attack. Painted on the pavement outside was the word “дети” which translates to “Children” in Russian. Despite this warning, the Russians bombed the theatre anyway, killing 600 civilians, many of whom were women and children. This project seeks to reimagine the Donetsk Academic Regional Drama Theatre as a virtual “Museum in Exile” to celebrate Ukrainian history and culture. This project aims to counter Putin’s historical narrative by providing an alternative perspective for Western audiences while preserving Ukrainian heritage against ongoing Russian attempts at erasure.