УКР On April 30, San Francisco welcomed the second stop of Alina Sarnatska's U.S. tour, organized by Leleka Foundation — an intimate evening of contemporary Ukrainian theatre at C Ukraine.
The staged reading of Balance was performed by Katya Bliostka, a famous Ukrainian writer and blogger, who brought the text to life with visible emotional depth — a remarkable feat. The audience felt it. Every word came from the heart.
The live Q&A with Alina and Katya was moderated by Bohdan Andrukh, who led a rich, wide-ranging conversation that touched on writing, war, and questions around identity, gender, and the LGBT community in the Ukrainian military context.
The evening also featured an auction. A flag signed by General Kyrylo Budanov sold for $750. A signed copy of Alina's book went for $400, and a bottle of wine sold for $250 — bringing the total auction proceeds to approximately $1,400. Additional funds came in through the tickets.
People stayed long after the formal program ended — talking, asking questions, connecting. Ukrainian pastries from a local bakery helped keep the warmth going.
The tour continues:
📍 Los Angeles — May 2, Hudson Theater
📍 Washington, D.C. — May 11, Spooky Action Theater
May 12, Ukraine House
All proceeds go directly toward medical supplies for Ukrainian field medics, delivered by Leleka Foundation.
