The Ukrainian-Australian Theater Maker Behind ‘Art of Courage’

Sophia Hodych is not your typical theater maker.

As a Ukrainian-Australian artist, she weaves personal history with political urgency, creating work that resonates far beyond the stage. Her latest immersive production, “Art of Courage,” transforms Brisbane’s PIP Theatre into the fractured, resilient heart of wartime Ukraine. Blending documentary-style storytelling with audience interaction, the piece invites viewers to walk in the footsteps of refugees, rebels, and survivors.

Born in Melbourne, Australia to Ukrainian parents, Hodych moved back to Ukraine at the age of 1 until 13. These formative years created a deep schism in her identity, commenting that while being “Australian,” Ukraine was where “I learned my first language, read my first book, found life-long friends, had my first love, battled bullying, participated in a revolution, learned of corruption and saw a lot of theatre.”

Now, having lived in Australia for 10 years, Hodych reflects on deep cultural distinctions, as if having one foot in each world:

“It’s a hard fact to swallow for me, as I associate my identity so strongly with Ukraine and not at all with Australia,” she muses. But within these ongoing discussions with ideas on identity, Hodych is grateful for the opportunities of pursuing a creative interest in theater, and watching her own work take action within Australian and international theater communities.

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Her project, “Art of Courage,” was designed to raise funds in order to better support Ukrainian children affected by war. As Hodych recalls, “the idea for the project was born the very day the war started.” It is a three-part series including a storybook, an immersive theater show, and online content that aims to enlighten Australian audiences on the historical and political context for the invasion, including scenes about the Holodomor and Executed Renaissance during the 1930s. But beyond these tragedies, it is a celebration of Ukrainian history and identity.

The theater production aspect of this project has garnered immense support, being performed in Florence, Italy at the Meeting of European Theatrical Academies (META) as well as a production in conjunction with Brisbane Immersive. The performance reimagines PIP Theatre as various Ukrainian settings, such as living rooms, theaters, and bunkers.

The narrative unfolds through a non-linear, “choose-your-own-adventure” format, allowing viewers to explore different vignettes that depict the experiences of refugees, soldiers, displaced families, and rebels. Following historical events including the Holomodor and Revolution of Dignity, as well as today’s conflict, the play also introduces ancient traditions such as Ivana Kupala (St. John’s Eve) to a non-Ukrainian audience.

“The purpose of this structure is not for the audiences to see every storyline, but to create a sense of a fully developed world where they can peek at certain moments in time,” Hodych explains.

“Art of Courage” has garnered wide audience success, with the Queensland Creative Arts industry nominating the performance for a Matilda Award and Hodych also being nominated for the Billy Brown Best Emerging Artist award.

In speaking with Hodych, she notes of theater as an untapped form of social and political resistance, going beyond “post-truth” media sources to provide a human perspective to conflict: “I would say that theater has an incredibly unique power to convert strangers to friends, and make these far-removed issues deeply personal,” she adds. To her, it shows Australian audiences the many reasons why Ukrainian culture and Ukraine is worth preserving.

Hodych was invited to co-present a workshop on post-truth at the International Teaching Artist Conference in Auckland, New Zealand by Professor Emeritus Brad Haseman. Using “Art of Courage” as an example of post-truth theater, she highlights the importance of the value of questioning our media sources, examining the reliability of our media in an age where there is a real lack of distinction between fact or fiction.

“Art of Courage” managed to raise nearly $10,000 AUD ($6,430 USD) for Ukrainian Children affected by war, which was passed onto Razom for Ukraine.

Looking ahead, Hodych is thrilled to be developing a new theatrical work on the Russo-Ukrainian war as part of her postgraduate studies at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. While the piece is still evolving, what can be shared is that it will take the form of a one-woman show exploring the resilience and strength of Ukrainian women across time. At its heart, the play draws powerful parallels between a contemporary Ukrainian female soldier on the frontlines and a 1920s “Emansypantka” – a feminist intellectual of Ukraine’s interwar intelligentsia. Though separated by a century, their struggles are strikingly similar. Ukrainians continue to fight for freedom, and this work is a call for a decisive and lasting victory.

As Sophia Hodych continues to forge her path as a bold and visionary theater maker, her work remains deeply rooted in truth, resistance, and cultural preservation. With “Art of Courage,” she has not only created a space for empathy and understanding but also empowered audiences to engage with history through a deeply human lens. Her commitment to spotlighting Ukrainian voices and stories – whether through immersive performance or solo storytelling – demonstrates the transformative potential of theater in times of war and uncertainty. As her journey unfolds, one thing is clear: Hodych’s art does not just reflect the world – it dares to change it.