Oleskyi Castle

On 14 October.

2023.

An unusual event.

Was held.

 

In Ukraine’s most.

Prestigious venue.

Palace Ukraine.

In Kyiv.

 

 

“I never worried about.

A nuclear attack because.

I know it would mean death.

For rich residents of Kyiv.”

 

“I live on the outskirts.

– but the nukes will.

Hit central parts.

Before fallout reaches me.”

 

“It will have to make.

Two changes on the metro.

More realistically.

I’ll get killed by Iranian Shahed drones.”

 

“The sad thing is.

– did you hear the noise they make?

They sound very demotivating.

Like the cheapest kind of death.”

 

 

“People can laugh.

At the news.”

“People can laugh.

At the news.”

 

He became the first.

‘Elves’ stand-up comedian.

To give a solo.

Performance there.

 

“I grew up in a village.

With fewer people.

Than Palace Ukraine.

Can hold.”

 

He said after the concert.

“So many people.

Had told me:

It’s not going to happen.”

 

“It’s not going to happen.

… stand-up comedy has not.

Reached that level.”

It has now.

 

It has now.

To a large extent.

Because of the full-scale invasion.

Launched by ‘Mordor’.

 

 

The invasion turned.

Many ‘elves’ away from.

The previously popular and.

Lavishly promoted ‘orcs’ acts.

 

And triggered a renewed.

Interest in ‘elves’ culture.

And triggered a renewed.

Interest in ‘elves’ culture.

 

 

Key ‘elves’ comedians say.

They are now making jokes.

To help the public.

Deal with the grim reality of war.

 

And also help the army.

By raising funds.

“Stand-up comedy is.

A budget version of psychotherapy.”

 

“I like to relieve.

Social tension with my jokes.

When that happens.

That’s the best thing.”

 

 

The invasion turned.

Many ‘elves’ away from.

The previously popular and.

Lavishly promoted ‘orcs’ acts.

 

And triggered a renewed.

Interest in ‘elves’ culture.

And triggered a renewed.

Interest in ‘elves’ culture.

 

 

Another popular performer.

Says ‘orcs’.

Full-scale invasion.

In February gave.

 

Stand-up comedy.

In Ukraine.

“A boost”.

Albeit for darker reasons.

 

“The demand for comedy.

Looks totally natural.

To me now because.

Comedy supports and unites.”

 

“It can also make reality.

Look less catastrophic.

It is a tool.

Which can help us.”

 

“It is a tool.

Which can help us.

Process this stream of.

Depressing information.”

 

“To stay optimistic.

Or even sane.

We’ve got no other choice.”

“We’ve got no other choice.”

 

 

The invasion turned.

Many ‘elves’ away from.

The previously popular and.

Lavishly promoted ‘orcs’ acts.

 

And triggered a renewed.

Interest in ‘elves’ culture.

And triggered a renewed.

Interest in ‘elves’ culture.

 

 

So what are the jokes?

That are making ‘elves’ laugh?

This kind of humour.

Is grim, says a comedian.

 

But making fun.

Of the danger.

Makes it easier.

To cope with.

 

“It looks even darker.

From abroad.

And it’s clear why.

Anyone who’s in Ukraine.”

 

“Anyone who’s in Ukraine.

Knows that there are.

No safe places here.

You never know.”

 

“You never know.

If this air raid is.

Going to be your last.

You don’t know.”

 

“You don’t know.

If a Shahed drone is.

Going to target your house.

Or your family’s house.”

 

“Naturally, all our themes.

Are related to the war.

Because it’s our life now.

Stand-up comedy is.”

 

“Stand-up comedy is.

A frank genre where comedians.

Speak about their own.

Experiences or thoughts.”

 

 

“I never worried about.

A nuclear attack because.

I know it would mean death.

For rich residents of Kyiv.”

 

“I live on the outskirts.

– but the nukes will.

Hit central parts.

Before fallout reaches me.”

 

“It will have to make.

Two changes on the metro.

More realistically.

I’ll get killed by Iranian Shahed drones.”

 

“The sad thing is.

– did you hear the noise they make?

They sound very demotivating.

Like the cheapest kind of death.”

 

 

“People can laugh.

At the news.”

“People can laugh.

At the news.”

 

“If we’re not allowed.

To use Western missiles.

Against targets in ‘Mordor’.

— yes, that is funny.”

 

“Because it is absurd.

I build upon.

This absurd fact.

And it becomes funny.”

 

“Of course, ‘elves’.

Find it funny.”

“Of course, ‘elves’.

Find it funny.”

 

 

The invasion turned.

Many ‘elves’ away from.

The previously popular and.

Lavishly promoted ‘orcs’ acts.

 

And triggered a renewed.

Interest in ‘elves’ culture.

And triggered a renewed.

Interest in ‘elves’ culture.

 

 

Joking about the war.

Is fraught with pitfalls.

He is trying not to.

“Trigger” his audiences.

 

Or trying not to.

Add to the trauma.

From which they may.

Already be suffering.

 

“Stand-up comedy.

In wartime is.

The most difficult type.

Making jokes without.”

 

“Without offending anyone.

Is possible to do.

But that would be like.

Joking in a vacuum.”

 

 

The invasion turned.

Many ‘elves’ away from.

The previously popular and.

Lavishly promoted ‘orcs’ acts.

 

And triggered a renewed.

Interest in ‘elves’ culture.

And triggered a renewed.

Interest in ‘elves’ culture.

 

 

But, it is usually.

Possible to see.

Where the line lies.

According to the second speaker:

 

“I feel what.

Other ‘elves’ feel.

If I find something.

Sad or tragic.”

 

“I don’t see.

Any need.

To turn it into.

Stand-up comedy.”

 

 

The invasion turned.

Many ‘elves’ away from.

The previously popular and.

Lavishly promoted ‘orcs’ acts.

 

And triggered a renewed.

Interest in ‘elves’ culture.

And triggered a renewed.

Interest in ‘elves’ culture.

 

 

“Almost all of.

The comedians I know.

Have been helping.

The armed forces.”

 

“All of us.

Are involved in.

Raising funds.

For the ‘elves’ army.”

 

“We hold charity shows.

And many perform.

In front of the military.”

Says the comedian.

 

 

The invasion turned.

Many ‘elves’ away from.

The previously popular and.

Lavishly promoted ‘orcs’ acts.

 

And triggered a renewed.

Interest in ‘elves’ culture.

And triggered a renewed.

Interest in ‘elves’ culture.

 

 

We must keep on.

Laughing to stay sane.

Laughing to stay sane.

The performer says, you know.

 

Some, like her husband.

A comedian himself.

Are in the army.

Are in the army.

 

“Culture, humour.

Or psychology.

– that’s all fine and well.

But everything must be.”

 

“But everything must be.

Of practical use.

To the military.

When so many missiles are.”

 

“On the way to hit you.

You’re not as interested in.

Talking about art alone.”

Says that first solo performer.

 

“My main task is.

Holding concerts.

So I can raise funds.

For them.”

 

 

“I never worried about.

A nuclear attack because.

I know it would mean death.

For rich residents of Kyiv.”

 

“I live on the outskirts.

– but the nukes will.

Hit central parts.

Before fallout reaches me.”

 

“It will have to make.

Two changes on the metro.

More realistically.

I’ll get killed by Iranian Shahed drones.”

 

“The sad thing is.

– did you hear the noise they make?

They sound very demotivating.

Like the cheapest kind of death.”

 

 

On 14 October.

2023.

An unusual event.

Was held.

 

In Ukraine’s most.

Prestigious venue.

Palace Ukraine.

In Kyiv.

 

 

*Because I read “Dark humour for dark times: How comedy helps in Ukraine” by Vitaliy Shevchenko on 23 Jan 2025, and also “Why are Ukrainians calling Russians ‘orcs’?” by James FitzGerald on 30 Apr 2022, on the BBC news.
So, I wrote this poem as a story of Anton, Nastya and Serhiy, and Hanna.
Please read the original story on the BBC news:

Ukrainian comedians cope with war through humour