2h 1m
Premiere 2023

Kortes

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What if, back in the 15th century, they'd already made Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas and discovered the clitoris — would emperors still feel the need to wage wars of conquest? [Spoiler: modern experience suggests yes]

An almost-epic comedy by playwright Lena Liahushonkova, directed by Tania Hubrii. Spanish travellers led by Hernán Cortés set out for America to "save" the Aztec empire from its traditions of human sacrifice and slavery — using the methods they knew best: killing, looting, and destruction. Who among them is the savage, and who is the god?

A story about cultural self-identification, colonial mentality, and the cost of compromising with the enemy. "We won't die. We'll suffocate in our own inferiority." Full of dark humour and urgent questions: what is the role of women in society? What do equality and brotherhood actually mean? And how do you tell barbarism from cultural expansion?

"For me, Cortes is first and foremost about the ruler of the Indians, Montezuma II, who let the enemy into his city. It's a story about what can happen when you negotiate with the enemy, let them onto your land, and start to coexist with them." — Tania Hubrii, tykyiv.com

Contains strong language. 18+