Two women behind an immersive walking tour have said they want to promote the powerful stories of Ukraine’s artists ahead of the upcoming Eurovision Song Contest.
Ukrainian producer and cultural activist Veronika Skilarova, 55 and British director and writer Zoe Lafferty, 36, are the brains behind With Fire And Rage, a Liverpool walking tour. Those taking part can scan QR codes located at various points in the city centre and listen to real stories from artists on the frontline in Ukraine.
Tales range from music concerts held during air raids to rescuing artwork out of war-torn cities. The tour begins at the Everyman Theatre, heads down Bold Street and through the Cultural Quarter before finishing at Liverpool Parish Church opposite the Liver Building.
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Veronika said: “We tried to get deep interviews with those we’ve spoken to, but it’s also my own story of being a mum, being Ukrainian and my wider charity work. It’s about preserving heritage and the different forms of resilience through art.
"When you use the audio, you can see parallels between Ukraine and places such as Liverpool. When you are listening through your headphones, you are not interacting with other people, so you become involved with stories of the artists.”
The pair are keen to emphasise how the war in Ukraine, like other wars, can have devastating effects on culture and identity. Veronika said: “It's about the situation on the frontline, and that includes preserving cultural heritage as well as the fighting.
"It’s very important to tell their stories and bring out the truth. It was emotionally hard. You can read statistics about this, but this puts people’s stories at the forefront.”
Zoe said: “It’s about using creativity and culture as a form of resistance, and the consequences Ukrainian artists are facing for doing that. For example, in the tour we have the story of an artist who was imprisoned and tortured heavily after he tried to preserve Ukraine artwork.
"This is about oppression and violence, and part of that is eradicating identity. It’s about violence in all different aspects, from taking over cities to human rights violations, and part of that is destroying different aspects of Ukrainian identities such as architecture.”
Veronika and Zoe have known each other since 2020 through their work in the arts. The pair came up with the idea of a walking tour last autumn, shortly after Liverpool was named as host of Eurovision in place of Ukraine. Zoe, who is from London, said: “We knew that Liverpool was an incredible city, with interesting politics and an incredible music, art and heritage scene.”
The other producer for With Fire And Rage, Laura Marie Brown, is from Liverpool City Centre and played a huge part in designing the layout of the tour. Zoe said: “She has an incredible knowledge of these different places. It’s great for the audience to visit places as varied as the Central Library and News From Nowhere. Everyone we’ve worked with has been very supportive of that.”
The tour is free to access, but those partaking can donate to the charity Art Therapy Force, which provides psychological support to artists suffering from the effects of war. Explaining her commitment to the charity, Veronika said: “A lot of artists are really traumatised and couldn’t work. This project is dedicated to the health and support of the artists of Ukraine.”
Veronika and Zoe have been impressed with how Liverpool has recognised Ukraine during Eurovision season, and are keen for this to continue beyond the song contest. Zoe said: "This is not something we care about during Eurovision. This is a very serious situation, and we have to continue to stand in solidarity and allyship.”
The tour can be accessed in any order, but it is recommended that you start at the Everyman and follow the recommended route. You can find out more about With Fire And Rage by visiting its website.
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