The Voila Festival begins on November 3rd. I have caught up with Yanina Hope, Ivanka Polchenko and Anna Korzik ahead of their play The Sound of Absence performing in The Space Theatre on 8th and 9th November 2025.

Who has been your inspiration from the Theatre world?

YANINA HOPE: That’s always a difficult question, because my inspirations come from so many directions. As a dramaturg, I’ve always returned to the big classic voices — Chekhov and Ibsen for their precision and emotional honesty — and to the American school of playwriting: Stoppard’s intellect, Shepard’s poetry, Mamet’s rhythm, and, of course, British Pinter, with his tension and silence.  As an actor, I’m very drawn to German and Russian theatre. I love the physical and political boldness of the German tradition, and the emotional depth and spiritual truth of the Russian stage. Both demand a kind of total presence — a bravery in performance that I find endlessly inspiring.

I’m fascinated by theatre that crosses borders — multidisciplinary, international work that isn’t tied to a single language or culture but speaks in images, movement, and rhythm. I always come back to the Greeks — to their timeless explorations of fate, mortality, and the fragile and often painful bonds of family that still echo through everything we do.

IVANKA POLCHENKO: During my studies, I was very fortunate to witness the work of the great theatre masters of the 20th century, like the Italian Giorgio Strehler, the Russian Piotr Fomenk,o as well as some of Peter Brook’s productions in the Paris Bouffes du Nord theatre. I draw inspiration from their approach to theatre as art dedicated to our fragile humanity.

Where do you draw your inspiration from as a creative?

YANINA HOPE: Honestly, from everyday life. I’ve trained myself to stay really curious about the world — the people around me, random details I notice on the street, even small, ordinary moments. Anything can spark an idea if you’re paying attention. I read a lot — all sorts of things, really. Philosophy, especially, has this wonderful way of pulling my mind into unexpected directions, uncovering ideas that feel like they’ve been hiding somewhere deep in my subconscious. But I’ll read anything that catches my interest; I like letting my brain make strange connections between completely different worlds. And I try to take in as much art as I can — film, music, visual art, performance. It all filters through and mixes together in ways I don’t always expect. For me, creativity is really about staying awake to the world — curious, porous, and ready to be surprised.

IVANKA POLCHENKO: think that the need to create comes from some deep inner longing to be together with others, to share how you feel about the world. Theatre as a collective art is one of the best ways to do so.

ANNA KORZIK: I draw inspiration from movement — rhythm, speed, and composition. I’m fascinated by how the body expresses emotion through subtle shifts in posture, walk, or gesture, and by how it reacts to memory or past events. Watching animals and people, I focus on these micro-movements, especially in theatre, to make spoken text feel more vivid and emotionally resonant.

What’s your favourite part of the Theatre industry?

YANINA HOPE: What I love most is how collaborative it is. Theatre is never just one person’s vision — it’s this constant dialogue between writers, directors, actors, designers, technicians, everyone. There’s something really beautiful about a group of people coming together to create something that only truly exists when everyone’s in sync. And there’s this amazing sense of community in the industry. People are passionate, curious, and incredibly resilient. Every production feels like a new adventure — a chance to tell stories that connect us all, challenge us, or just remind us what it means to be human. And even though it all disappears the moment the curtain falls, that’s kind of the magic of it — it’s alive, and then it’s gone.

IVANKA POLCHENKO: By all means, the rehearsals. That’s when everything takes place, the excitement and the thrill of the discovery.

ANNA KORZIK: I love theatre’s aliveness — its constant movement and change. It’s a living, breathing organism, and being part of it, creating within it, and guiding it while respecting the creator’s vision is endlessly fascinating.

What 1 piece of advice would you pass onto new Theatre students?

YANINA HOPE: Be patient — theatre isn’t instant noodles, it’s a slow-cooked stew. Stay curious: read, watch, listen, and notice everything around you. Inform yourself — see plays, talk to people, sneak inspiration from everywhere. Trust the work, especially the messy bits; that’s usually where the magic hides. And be resilient — you’ll stumble, but every stumble is a plot twist in your own story. Most importantly, never forget why you fell in love with theatre in the first place.

IVANKA POLCHENKO: There’s a great quote from Stanislavsky: “Love the art in yourself, not yourself in the art.” In other words, art requires passion and honesty.

ANNA KORZIK: Trust — in yourself, your body, your partner, your director, the process, and the audience. Trust is the key to deep, natural connection and authentic performance.

Do you have rituals that you do before each performance?

YANINA HOPE: Yes! I was trained in the Lee Strasberg Method, so I always start with the famous relaxation exercise before going on stage — a little wink to my favourite teacher, Lola Cohen. It’s my way of grounding myself and letting everything else fade away before stepping on stage.

IVANKA POLCHENKO: Spending a few moments in silence before going on stage is the best thing before going onstage. It’s even more magical when you can share it with your partners. Like tuning together to a silent melody, we are to perform on stage.

ANNA KORZIK: I don’t have personal rituals. My focus is on awakening performers’ attention and bringing everyone into full presence. When the cast is fully present, surprises become part of the performance, not something to fear.

Questions answered by: 

Yanina Hope – writer, actress, producer

Ivanka Polchenko– director

Anna Korzik – movement director 

THE SOUND OF ABSENCE

The Space Theatre – 269 Westferry Road, London, E14 3RS 

November 8, 2025 – 8:00pm

November 9, 2025 – 6:00pm

Tickets – https://www.voilafestival.co.uk/events/the-sound-of-absence/

Instagram

@the_sound_of_absence – show

@yaninahope – writer, actress, producer

@ivanka_pane_tulipani – director

@vladyslav.kuznetsoff – composer, pianist

@annakorzik – movement director

@byshahaf – set & costume designer 

@david_istinii – producer

@freya_production_ – production company

@quokkafilms – production company