We invite colleagues working in the performing arts to take part in the sixth edition of The Black Box program, which will be a special one this year. Between 2023 and 2025, the program traveled across cities in Ukraine. We collaborated with partners from various theatrical (and beyond-theatrical) environments, met many artists, and this year we invite friends to gather at our home base in Lviv and spend five days together, from July 13 to 17, in shared exploration and conversation.
The theme of this year’s program, Audacious Foxes, is inspired by the name of a bar in London and refers to the playful nature of theater, free poetics, imagination, and, of course, the audacity that drives us to step onto the stage again and again. It later turned out that the bar had a different name, but by then it no longer mattered. After years of working with themes of socially engaged and politically committed theater that reflects reality and processes memory, we propose following the foxes and looking at another side of our craft. Because ultimately, when we enter a rehearsal room or a performance space, we remain dancing fools who sometimes—by accident or not—stumble upon the essence of important things.
Over five days of collective work, we will immerse ourselves in workshops led by an artist and an artist whose backgrounds stem from different schools and practices, yet who meet in a shared search for playfulness and individual creativity.
Piotr Sikora, clown, performer, and director, will share his workshop on the “poetics of foolishness,” where participants will discover the beauty, freedom, and humanity hidden within our mistakes, failures, and absurd ideas. The workshop explores how foolishness can become a gateway to imagination, connection, and unexpected poetry.
Oksana Cherkashyna, actor, performer, director, and visitor of that very London bar, will invite participants to search for strategies of escape from the pressure and expectations experienced by responsible and duty-bound artists. Through playful performative structures, we will test the possibilities of artistic forms that refuse to meet expectations.
Program Curator: Liuba Ilnytska
Dates: July 13–17, 11:00 AM–6:00 PM
Location: Lviv, Jam Factory Art Center
Participation conditions: Participation is free of charge. The group will be selected based on submitted applications. Priority will be given to applicants who have previously participated in workshops within The Black Box program.
The Black Box 2026 application period is ongoing. Don’t miss your chance — apply by July 3, 11:59 PM.
What we provide: For participants coming from other cities, accommodation in Lviv for up to six nights (if needed) and lunches will be provided.
Travel expenses will not be reimbursed.
Important: Participation in the program requires full attendance and engagement in all workshops throughout the specified days and hours.
In the event of non-selection, the organizers reserve the right not to provide an explanation.
Program Workshops
Workshop Audacious Foxes by Oksana Cherkashyna
In her workshop Audacious Foxes, Oksana Cherkashyna invites participants to search for strategies of escape from the pressure and expectations imposed on responsible and committed artists. Perhaps the route of escape lies through territories that are far from sacred; perhaps it urges us to cross boundaries (our own or those carefully established by others). Reflecting on the concept of hubris, associated with audacity, arrogance, and the notion of a “criminal personality,” the workshop poses the question: What can we discover about ourselves and about art when we lose our sense of prudence and moderation? Through playful performative structures, participants will test the potential of artistic forms that refuse to meet expectations.
The workshop is intended for practitioners of the performing arts.
Oksana Cherkashyna
Ukrainian theater and film actress. She is an Honored Artist of Ukraine and a recipient of the national film award Golden Dzyga. Her artistic career began in 2010 at the Taras Shevchenko Kharkiv State Academic Drama Theater Berezil.
As a theater actress, she has worked with numerous theaters in Ukraine and Poland and has created independent theatrical, educational, social, and community-building projects. Since 2020, she has received some of Poland’s most prestigious theater awards, including the Best Actress Award at the Divine Comedy Festival in Kraków and the Grand Acting Prize of the National Contemporary Art Competition.
Oksana was also included in the list of the 50 Most Courageous Women in Poland by Wysokie Obcasy. Throughout her practice, she has prioritized political art as a means of provoking critical thinking, social change, and the emancipation of society.
Workshop The Poetry of Stupidity by Piotr Sikora
The Poetry of Stupidity is a workshop of Piotr Sikora about discovering the beauty, freedom and humanity hidden inside our mistakes, failures and ridiculous ideas. Through clowning, play, improvisation and creative exploration, participants learn how to trust their impulses, embrace vulnerability and transform “not knowing” into a source of creativity. Rather than trying to be funny, we focus on being present, authentic and available to whatever happens in the moment. The workshop explores how stupidity can become a doorway to imagination, connection and unexpected poetry. It is open to performers, artists and curious humans interested in play, creativity and the art of being beautifully imperfect.
Piotr Sikora
Polish clown, performer, director and teacher based in London. His work combines clowning, improvisation and physical theatre to create performances that are both hilarious and deeply human. He has trained with renowned teachers including Philippe Gaulier, Paola Coletto, Giovanni Fusetti and Aitor Basauri, and has taught workshops internationally across Europe, Australia and Asia. His solo show Furiozo: Man Looking for Trouble received multiple international awards and was listed among The Guardian’s Top 10 Comedy Shows of 2024. Piotr’s teaching focuses on play, vulnerability, imagination and helping performers discover their unique creative voice.