Ooook! Productions is a student theatre company based in Durham that has been raising money for charitable causes through theatrical productions for over a decade. Our latest project is 'Ivan Vasilievich', the once banned Soviet comedy by Mikhail Bulgakov, whose work is well-known in the Russian-speaking world. For the first time ever we present 'Ivan Vasilievich' in English, having translated the play inhouse and it is our hope that a new part of the world might be able to see in their own language Bulgakov's comedic genius!

We are using the free release of 'Ivan Vasilievich' on our YouTube channel to ask for donations to Rainbow Railroad, a Canadian charity which seeks to assist LGBTQI+ refugees from around the world. Their work currently is focused on the Russian Federation. Their mission statement is bellow:

"Around the world LGBTQI+ people continue to face oppression; in almost 70 countries there are laws that criminalize same sex intimacy and discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. In eight countries same sex intimacy is punishable by death. The global refugee crisis is exasperating the plight of LGBTQI people worldwide. Rainbow Railroad exists to provide a solution to this problem, to provide solutions for individuals facing imminent danger and to get them to safety."

We hope you consider donating and please enjoy Ooook!'s 'Ivan Vasilievich'!