Mariupol at The Cockpit

After successful script-in-hand performances at The Old Fire Station, Oxford, MARIUPOL comes to The Cockpit as a full production for the first time.

Written by Katia Haddad, MARIUPOL is based on her treasured memories of the city and accounts of the survivors of the siege. The play is directed by John Retallack, Olivier-award winning writer and director.

Summer 1992. Mariupol. Galina, a student from Moscow, meets Steve, a charismatic Navy oLicer. 30 years later, she comes back looking for him in a bunker under the bombed Azovstal. Even on the opposite sides of the war, their lives are connected.

Set over three fateful encounters in 1992, 2002, and 2022, MARIUPOL is a modern drama, whose characters are faced with intense moral dilemmas. 

Katia Haddad is a writer and playwright. MARIUPOL is the author’s personal response to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

John Retallack is an Olivier-award winning writer and theatre director with the career spanning for over forty years. John was a founder of the Actors Touring Company (1977- 1985) and the Company of Angels (2000-2010). He is an Associate Artist of Bristol Old Vic. Since 2017 John runs Oxford Playwriting course for professional writers.

Nathalie Barclay (Galina) is a British/American actress. Theatre credits include Don’t Destroy Me (Arcola Theatre) and Visitors (Watermill Theatre). TV credits include Killing Eve (BBC 1), The Diplomat (Netflix), Surface (Apple TV).

Oliver Gomm (Steve) is a British actor, poet and artist. Theatre credits include Kill Me Now (Park Theatre), The School of Sheming (Orange Tree Theatre). TV credits include The Coroner (BBC 1) and SS-GB (BBC1).

"I urge everyone to see this play - heart-breaking and hopeful in equal measure."  Audience member, Oxford

The play supports the David Nott Foundation who do incredible work training doctors in countries impacted by conflict and catastrophe including Ukraine. David's book "War Doctor" was a great inspiration to the playwright Katia Haddad when writing Mariupol and one of our reasons for supporting the foundation.

"War Doctor astounded me by the honesty and bravery of David’s stories from the underbelly of war. Whilst most people prefer to look away, medics like David Nott volunteer on the very front line of human suffering." - Katia Haddad