Our Marik

Category YOUTH

“Our Marik” is a performance created by Ukrainian artists Mariia and Stanislav, based on Mariia Patokova’s artistic research exploring how to speak with teenagers about the reality of ongoing war in an engaging and emotionally safe way.

At the heart of this documentary play is the real story of Stanislav and his sister Liza, who both come from Mariupol. Through teenage Stanislav’s eyes, the audience sees the city before the war began in 2014 — full of everyday life, humor, and familiar routines. Later, through Liza’s experience, the performance follows the first days of the full-scale invasion in 2022.

To connect with young audiences, the performance uses contemporary language, humor, pop culture references, and details familiar to teenagers today, including popular video games. Through the characters’ personal stories, “Our Marik” reveals how political decisions deeply affect individual lives, relationships, and everyday reality.

Mariia and Stanislav are actors and puppeteers from Ukraine. Mariia graduated from the Kyiv Karpenko-Kary Theatre and Cinema University in 2017, and Stanislav graduated from the Kharkiv National Kotliarevsky University of Arts. After their studies, both came to Lithuania, where they worked for five years at the Panevėžys Puppet Wagon Theatre, where they met.

Mariia also works as a theatre teacher, mostly leading workshops for teenagers, while Stanislav is a digital artist.

Both artists explore theatre for teenagers, focusing on sensitive and relevant topics for young people. Previously, the creative duo developed a sketch of a performance for teenagers exploring sexual relationships.

In 2025, Mariia completed her Master’s studies in Acting at the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre. During her studies, together with Stanislav, she created the performance for a teenage audience on the theme of war – “Our Marik”.