A Fan of War
Performance Details
Venue: Ukrainian Social Club
Location: Isleworth Public Hall, South Street, Isleworth, TW7 7BG
Date: 12 November 2025
Doors: 7.30pm
Show: 8.00pm
Ukrainian Social Club in Richmond and Hounslow proudly presents “A Fan of War”, a bold and darkly funny new play by award-winning Ukrainian writer Polina Polozhentseva.
Directed and produced by Anastazie Toros, this striking piece centres on a young Ukrainian woman navigating everyday life in London while haunted by the war still raging back home. Each phone notification brings fresh news from the the native city and front, forcing her to juggle the absurdities of love and the unbearable reality of loss.
Bogdana Kalantay and Nathan Trochet deliver captivating performances in a story that asks: How do we carry on with ordinary life when war is never far away?
After its sold-out runs at Camden People’s Theatre (February 2025) and Barons Court Theatre (August 2025), A Fan of War returns to London, celebrated for its sharp humour, emotional honesty, and profound humanity.
“I reached a point where I couldn’t face reality head-on anymore,” says Polozhentseva. “So I turned it into a comedy — the kind that makes you laugh through tears.”
“This play gives a voice to Ukrainians living far from home,” adds Toros.
Presented at a moment of growing global unease, A Fan of War resonates across cultures — a darkly comic reflection on conflict, exile, and emotional survival.
We warmly welcome Ukrainians and their British friends to join us — an evening to share our stories, understand each other’s worlds, and connect through theatre.
About the Creative Team
Anastazie Toros is a London-based theatre director. Her recent work includes Refuse (Assembly George Studios, Edinburgh Fringe 2025), Save The Light and Finding a Voice (Barons Court Theatre), and Penita La Tragediya (Lesia Ukrainka Theatre, Kyiv). She also assisted on A Time Traveller’s Guide to Donbas (Nottingham Playhouse).
Polina Polozhentseva is a Ukrainian playwright currently based in London. Her plays include Don’t Freak Out (Wild Theatre, Kyiv), Grandma and Grandpa Are Having Sex (Theatre of Playwrights, Kyiv), and Save The Light (Barons Court Theatre). Her works have been staged internationally and translated into several languages, including English, German, and Polish.
Bogdana Kalantay, a German-Ukrainian actress based in London and Berlin, trained at East 15 Acting School. Her screen credits include Rock, Paper, Scissors (BAFTA-winning short), A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian (BBC Radio 4), and Land of Smiles.
Nathan Trochet, a French actor trained at East 15 Acting School, has recently appeared in The Vampire Deadlines and Opening Night with Pickles Company.
