The Abbey Theatre in Dublin has condemned “an unprovoked" attack which left a Ukrainian actor in hospital.
Ukrainian actor Oleksandr Grekov was viciously assaulted by a group of people who smashed a bottle off his head before using it to stab him in the face, reports the Irish Mirror. Oleksandr is a member of the Lesya Ukrainka National Theatre, and he had just finished performing a Ukrainian version of the famous Irish play Translations in the Abbey Theatre when he was attacked after the show.
In a statement yesterday evening, the Abbey Theatre said: “We were honoured to welcome and work with our Ukrainian colleagues from the Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Drama Theatre over the last ten days, showing their production of Brian Friel's Translations to sold out houses at the Abbey Theatre.
"They are a group of incredible and resilient artists - using their art as an act of resistance to speak to their lived experience in a powerful and deeply moving way.
Read more: Actor 'bitten and bottle broke over head' after Dublin show
"Unfortunately, one of the cast was attacked near the Abbey on Saturday evening after the final performance. This was an unprovoked, random act of mindless violence that left the cast member needing stitches and treatment in hospital.
"Both the Abbey Theatre and the Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Drama Theatre condemn this behaviour and stand together against bullying and violence of this nature. The cast member is recovering well and began the journey home to Kyiv with the rest of the company yesterday.
“The Abbey Theatre will continue to work with the gardai, who are investigating the incident.” They want to say the attack will “not overshadow the joyful and important collaboration” between both two theatre companies.
In a statement, gardai said: “No arrests have been made at this time. Enquiries are ongoing.”
Anastasya Pavlenko, who is the Assistant Managing Director for International Affairs at Lesya Ukrainka National Theatre, spoke to The Irish Mirror on Oleksandr’s behalf. She said "We are all surprised because we thought that Dublin was nice but sometimes sh*t happens, it’s life."
The group of actors and production staff, which was 28 people in total, flew back to Kyiv on Sunday after finishing a seven-show run.
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