‘The Heart of Europe Beats in Ukraine’: Bouquet Kyiv Stage festival opens in Kyiv

The eighth annual Bouquet Kyiv Stage festival has opened at the St. Sophia of Kyiv National Conservation Area, bringing together leading Ukrainian and international artists, musicians, theater and film actors, and scholars. Over four days, participants aim to convey the central theme of this year’s event – “The Heart of Europe Beats in Ukraine” – underscoring Ukraine’s role not only as a defender of European values, but as one of the continent’s historic founders, with a centuries-old claim to its place in Europe.

“Ukraine has always been, and will always remain, part of Europe. For the civilised world, Europe has long stood as a symbol of humanism, freedom, and dignity. In the clash of epochs, civilisations, past and future, European values have found their last stronghold. Today, the heart of Europe beats here – in Ukraine, in Kyiv, in Saint Sophia. Ukraine is the heart of Europe,” said Evgeni Utkin, co-founder of the festival, at the opening ceremony.

Co-founder Irina Budanska noted that the festival’s message carries cultural pride and resilience. “The heart of Europe, now in Ukraine, continues to fight despite being wounded. That means the entire organism must join in the fight between good and evil. Every year we promise ourselves we’ll keep the program small, but it’s impossible – our culture is too rich,” she said.

The 2025 edition features an array of genres and events designed to resonate with a wide audience, from discussion panels and photography exhibits to classical and contemporary music concerts, film screenings, and theatrical performances. One of the festival’s signature moments will be a gathering of kobzars – traditional Ukrainian bard-singers from across the country. The full event program is available at the  link  https://bouquetstage.com/ .

Kira Petrachek, deputy director general of the St. Sophia of Kyiv National Conservation Area, announced that visitors can join guided tours of St. Sophia during the festival, accompanied by live musical performances.

The opening performance was delivered by Ukrainian stage and screen actress Kateryna Kisten, who presented an original monologue for the character Ophelia. “This land, I was born here, I flourished here. I’m coming back here because I have nowhere else to go,” her Ophelia says. Kisten explained that she and director Tamara Trunova crafted the monologue for the Kyiv State Drama and Comedy Theater on the Left Bank’s (Left Bank Theater) adaptation of Hamlet as a meditation on the value of life. “The meaning is that every life matters. Bouquet Kyiv Stage is a place where people keep creating life by gathering and continuing the festival. My Ophelia says: Don’t forget to think, return to yourself, preserve your grace and purity,” Kisten said.

The festival’s first day also featured two concerts – one dedicated to works by Ukrainian composers and another by the Kyiv Chamber Choir with the Kyiv Camerata National Ensemble of Soloists.

Also on August 14, the Khlibnia of St. Sophia opened the art exhibition “Ukraine – The Last Stronghold of Light,” showcasing works by twenty-eight contemporary Ukrainian artists capturing their reflections on the events unfolding in Ukraine.

Read more: https://mediacenter.org.ua/news