The Hague

The Hague is a grotesque, humorous, and sinister phantasmagoria based on real events and figures connected to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

The play presents a utopia imagined by a young Ukrainian girl whose home was bombed and whose relatives were killed by Russian forces. She invents an imaginary trial at The Hague tribunal against Putin and his inner circle for war crimes.

Putin, Shoigu, Kadyrov, Surkov, and others sit in prison awaiting their verdict. Witnesses, prosecutors, defense lawyers, Scholz, and Macron appear on stage. The accused complain about prison conditions and tasteless food while scheming to avoid trial, relying on connections in European governments and financial leverage. Gradually, they begin to betray one another: Simonyan claims she was always against Putin, Kadyrov cries over his Ferrari, Matvienko descends into alcoholism and madness, and Surkov proposes crucifying Putin like Jesus Christ and immortalizing him as a saint.

This black comedy portrays nuclear blackmailers as pathetic and ridiculous, constructing a labyrinth that allows each viewer to explore their own understanding of good and evil.

The project brought together 11 professional Dutch-Ukrainian actors under the direction of a Ukrainian director. It was staged as a performative reading accompanied by live double bass music and received positive critical reviews and strong press interest.