Twatted

Synopsis

In a grimy rehearsal space in Kherson, Ukraine, four men navigate the turbulent waters of failed relationships, fading dreams, and toxic masculinity.

Hairy, a 34-year-old vocalist, attempts to transform himself for the love of Aleksandra, a successful businesswoman. His bandmates – Ruslan on guitar, Saint on drums, and Markovskiy on bass – watch his journey with a mixture of derision and concern. As Hairy’s relationship implodes, the play explores themes of identity, conformity, and the destructive power of unchecked male aggression.

Markovskiy’s darkly comic drama unfolds over three seasons, charting Hairy’s descent from aspiring family man back to his roots as a hard-drinking rocker. The band’s crude banter and philosophical musings serve as a Greek chorus, commenting on Hairy’s choices and their own stunted emotional lives.

Twatted paints a bleak picture of working-class male culture in post-Soviet Ukraine, asking uncomfortable questions about toxic relationships, homophobia, and the difficulty of personal growth in an environment that resists change. Can these men ever break free from their self-destructive patterns, or are they doomed to repeat the same mistakes?