Ukrainian community theatre in Reading - performance, identity, culture and connection.

Theatre of Personality (Театр ОСОБИСТОСТІ) is an independent Ukrainian community theatre founded by Kateryna Spitkovska in Reading in January 2025.

The theatre brings together teenagers and adults and creates a space where performance becomes a way to explore identity, personal stories, Ukrainian culture and heritage, as well as the experience of building a life in a new country.

Combining theatre, literature, music, humour, reflection and audience participation, Theatre of Personality creates original performances, cultural and educational events, interactive programmes and community projects. The theatre also participates in festivals and collaborates with Ukrainian and British cultural and community organisations in Reading, across Berkshire and beyond.

Since its first performance in February 2025, Theatre of Personality has developed a diverse programme of performances and community projects.

Highlights include performances of Lesya Ukrainka’s “The Forest Song” at Mavka Fest and Reading Water Fest, including a performance in English for a wider British audience; the original Mother’s Day programme “The Story of One Park”; the theatre-and-reflection programme “The Forest Song: About the Choice That Lives Within Us” at the Ukrainian Library in Reading; an original performance for Heritage Day; and an interactive Growth Mindset and resilience programme for students of Mariupol Lyceum, evacuated to Kyiv because of the war.

One of the major projects of 2025 was “Christmas at the Station”, initiated by Theatre of Personality and created in collaboration with Choir Kryla, Café Malva and the Ukrainian Centre in Reading. The production brought together theatre, music and community and attracted British media attention, including BBC coverage.

In March 2026, Theatre of Personality premiered “The Broken Clarinet” (Зламаний кларнет), based on MUR. The production marked a new stage in the theatre’s development and continued its exploration of Ukrainian cultural memory, history and identity through contemporary theatrical language.

Theatre of Personality is not only about performing on stage. It is about creating a place where people can be seen, heard and connected.For Ukrainian people living in the UK, the theatre offers a way to stay connected with Ukrainian language, literature, history and cultural heritage while becoming part of a new cultural and social environment.For our actors, particularly young people, it is a space to develop confidence, creativity, communication, public-speaking and leadership skills. Participants are not simply performers — they contribute ideas, work with audiences and become active co-creators of the theatre.Our vision is to create a living cultural space where theatre becomes a way of meeting ourselves, meeting others and discovering culture through shared experience.Theatre of Personality was founded by Kateryna Spitkovska and operates as an independent community theatre, collaborating with the Ukrainian Centre in Reading and other local cultural and community partners.