Join us for a festive performance that will make you laugh, gasp, and truly feel the spirit of Christmas!

The Night Before Christmas – A Ukrainian Musical Comedy

Presented by Ukrainian Youth Theatre Richmond, in collaboration with Ukrainian School Bristol, as part of the Ukrainian Winter Festival.

Step into an enchanting 18th-century Ukrainian village on Christmas Eve — a world filled with music, folklore, festive mischief, and heartfelt romance.

This lively musical comedy, adapted by Oleksandr Zhyla from the beloved Christmas tale by Mykola Hohol (Nikolai Gogol), blends dazzling costumes, traditional kolyada carols, and unforgettable characters.

Please note: The performance is in Ukrainian.

To ensure everyone can enjoy the story, we will provide a printed English synopsis, including an overview and descriptions of the main scenes.

Expect:

vibrant village celebrations

playful twists of fate

festive songs and dances

hints of magic, mystery, and Christmas wonder

a touching story of courage, love, and impossible promises

The audience will journey through carolling, fortune-telling traditions, comic misunderstandings, and bold adventures — all woven together with humour and Ukrainian cultural charm.

Synopsis

The story is set in the 18th century Central Ukrainian village. Vakula, a poor blacksmith and a son a local witch (Solokha) who is a widow, falls for the most beautiful girl in the village, Oksana, the daughter of a Zaporozhzha Cossack named Choub. Oksana does not love him back and says that she will only marry him if he brings her the shoes off the Empress feet. Vakula decides to kill himself and announces it to all the villagers. He comes to his mother’s house where he meets the Devil, threatens him with the cross and makes him take him to the Empress. The Empress agrees to give Vakula her shoes. Meanwhile it turns out that Oksana is in love with Vakula. When he come back to the village and asks Choub for permission to marry her, Oksana happily agrees

Established in May 2022, Ukrainian Youth Theatre Richmond brings together talented children and teenagers who have moved to the UK with their families after the start of a full-scale invasion. The theather group has several plays in their repertoire, including “Golden Leggings” and this play "The Night Before Christmas" by Mykola Hohol, which was a great success at many venues in London, including Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond.

Now Bristol residents can experience the magic.

Doors open at 11:00. The show starts at 12:00

All proceeds raised at the event will go to support children at Ukrainian School Bristol and towards providing treatments for Ukrainian children with life-changing war-related injuries at Superhumans charity.

For inquiries, please contact info@uaw.org.uk

Description supplied by the event organiser.