As part of the 2025 Victoria Fringe Festival, local artist Raisa Stone will be bringing a deep, dark, and humorous performance which includes "wild" refugee stories and sharp political commentary.
Stone spent decades collecting stories from survivors of the Soviet Union and the Nazis, including her own family. Her character – Ukrainian Baba – is a composite of these stories with mostly true interpretations, deepened by the complexity of her intersecting Ukrainian and Jewish roots.
"Baba will lead you into the goddess-centred culture of Eastern Europe’s Indigenous people. Enjoy a raunchy Cossack song or two, a lesson in How to Complain Like a Ukrainian, and a chilling traditional curse for Putin, 'May you be kicked by a duck,'" noted a news release.
Stone is a former Victoria School of Writing instructor and a Canada Council for the Arts designated professional in five categories. She's also a Montreal Jubilation Gospel Choir alumna who has won New York City Opera and Banff Centre and Centrum Arts Foundation scholarships.
"I recommend Raisa as a truly quality performer with an abundance of talent, charm and charisma, which comes across well to her audience. She delivers with true professionalism," noted Kate Petersen, the former Greater Victoria Film Commissioner in the release.
The performances are at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 21 and 5:15 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 23 at Intrepid Studio Theatre.
