The Hooligan Project: Screening

Liubov Sliusareva’s 25-minute documentary The Hooligan Project follows Ukrainian theatre group Hooligan Art Community as they work with young artists in Cornwall following the company's displacement to the UK by russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Commissioned by The Ladder for the Harbour Festival in September 2024, Hooligan Art Community developed an original piece of music-theatre with local 18-35 year olds at The Pearl Exchange in Bude, in response to the story of actor Simeon ‘Sam’ Kyslyi’s teenage years as a football hooligan. (Sam used to fight in brutal competitions against rival football supporters in the east of Ukraine, while at the same time studying to be an actor, covering his bruises with make-up before going on stage.) The Hooligan Project is a pilot for a new model of touring production which brings together the Hooligan artists (some of whom are displaced Ukrainian nationals) and local participants in each place, to reflect on themes of belonging, violence and vulnerability. Sam's story provides a window on the violent subcultures that some teenage boys and young men resort to in search of belonging or to overcome fear. By encouraging the artistic and expressive development of all participants The Hooligan Project results in extraordinary performances in which Sam's elegy for the hooligan firm of his youth is played in delicate counterpoint to the emergence of a new community of local artists.

Join Hooligan Art Community for the premiere of their new documentary film, introduced by the artists at Crouch End's ArtHouse cinema, followed by drinks and chats in the bar. Tickets are free but reservation is recommended due to capacity in the venue. Please reserve your spot here: TICKETS Donations to the company are welcome here: https://www.paypal.com/donate?hosted_button_id=9YB2HF3PZZG46

Please arrive at the venue punctually. We will introduce the film at 19:00 and it will begin promptly at 19:05 . At 19:30 we will move to the bar where we will be eagre to discuss the film and our work with you over a drink.

ABOUT HOOLIGAN ART COMMUNITY Founded in Kyiv, Ukraine in 2019, Hooligan Art Community are a group of artists from Ukraine, UK and Germany that began developing collaborative co-authored performance in empty factories and abandoned spaces in the city, drawing on practices in theatre, dance, opera, music and film. The documentary screening takes place as part of a series of events with which Hooligan Art Community is marking the third anniversary of the start of russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began on 24th February 2022. Find full listings of Hooligan's events at https://www.hooliganart.org/dates