Bringing Ukrainian culture closer to home: An evening with Mykhailo Zhuravel

On 23 April, HUG welcomed Ukrainian cultural producer and comedian Mykhailo Zhuravel to Gothenburg for an evening that brought together two things that do not always seem to belong together: contemporary Ukrainian literature and stand-up comedy.

In “Quietly Well-Read" show, Mykhailo shared stories about how he discovered contemporary Ukrainian writers, what reading means to him and how he tries to pass that interest on to his children. He also spoke about Ukrainian authors who are now serving in the war - among them Andrii Liubets, Serhii Dziuba, Artemii Kirsanov, Vasyl Piddubnyi, Vitalii Zapeka and the Kapranov brothers.

The result of this unexpected mix of genres was an evening that was both thoughtful and genuinely funny. Literature became a starting point for conversation, while humour offered a light and accessible way into stories about Ukrainian writers, culture and everyday life.

The event was also part of a fundraising initiative organised together with Ukrainian Volunteer Hub – Stockholm, raising funds for EcoFlow charging stations for the unit where Ukrainian writer and artist Vasyl Piddubnyi serves.

Cultural events create opportunities for Ukrainians in Sweden to stay connected to a culture that continues to evolve, even in the middle of war. For HUG, creating these opportunities is part of supporting a strong and connected Ukrainian community in Sweden.

Thank you to Mykhailo Zhuravel and everyone who joined us for this special evening and helped create such a warm and welcoming atmosphere.