The Border is a tribute to non-binary artist Antonina Romanova, a theatre-maker who joined the Ukrainian army’s defence against Russia in 2022. Blending documentary with ritual, it begins with a deeply moving video interview with Romanova on the front lines. This unfiltered glimpse into the conflict, through the lens of a queer artist who cannot make her usual work, carries enormous emotional weight. It’s followed by a series of rituals performed by Monika Wachowicz, which while visually striking, feel overwrought – she unfurls barbed wire, pours wine-glasses of sand, writes in blood, and strips naked – none of it has the same impact as Romanova’s dispatch. The opening of The Border is an unforgettable portrait of resilience, leaving rituals feeling sadly futile.

The Pleasance at EICC, until 24 Aug.
tw rating 3/5 | [Bizz Holmes]