An Evening of Sadness and Hope
CLAIRE WILKINSON shares her experience of the Holodomor Remembrance event at the Hot Tap Theatre
On Saturday 22 November it was my privilege to attend a remembrance of the Holodomor genocide of the Ukrainian people at the Hot Tap Theatre in St Andrew’s Mews, Hastings.
Every year on the fourth Saturday of November, these sad events are held all over Ukraine. Candles are lit, heart breaking music plays and songs ripple and fall onto the cold night air. The people come together in national unity, not only to remember, but to remind themselves that every human life is to be valued. To strive for a world where tolerance and respect is shown to all people – thus ensuring a terrible event like the Holodomor will never happen again anywhere … or to anybody.
The remembrance event highlighted how the very soul of Ukraine is in the Church. In 1932, under Stalin, more than a thousand Churches were closed and their property taken. Political control, particularly the collectivisation of agriculture, led to one of the worst famines of the 20th century and the deaths of millions of Ukrainians.The pain left behind by such cruel events may have faded a little, but the memory never disappears.
The live tour shown to us from the National Museum in Kiev was filled with testaments to appalling suffering. Outside the museum, in the snow, was the haunting sculpture of a young girl holding five ears of corn entitled The Bitter Memory of Childhood.
Now, once more in 2025, The Ukrainian people face threats to their culture, their language, their territory and their very identity and existence. We see their strength, their courage, their bravery and, above all, their determination that the Holodomor must never be repeated.
It was a sad evening but also an inspirational one of resilience and, for me personally, a reminder to stand up and speak out about Ukrainian history. A history we should never forget.
Special appreciation goes to Khrystyna Mashchenska and the Hastings and Rother branch of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain for organising the event. Thanks are also due to Dean Stalham of the Hot Tap Theatre and Ben Cole for providing and operating the technical equipment.
Slava Ukraini!
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