The Reckoning, a searing new play exploring how governments obscure war crimes during times of conflict, opens today at London's Arcola Theatre. Directed and co-written by Dash Arts' Josephine Burton, the production draws direct inspiration from the work of The Reckoning Project.
From Testimonies to Theatre
The play offers a fictionalized but emotionally authentic portrayal of the fight for justice. It is based on the stories and experiences of Ukrainian journalists, human rights lawyers, and researchers from TRP, who have spent the past three years collecting more than 600 testimonies from the war.
Production Details
Creative Team
- • Director & Co-writer: Josephine Burton
- • Production Company: Dash Arts
- • Venue: Arcola Theatre, London
Run Details
- • Opening: May 30, 2025
- • Closing: June 28, 2025
- • Inspiration: TRP's work and testimonies
Real Impact, Real Stories
These testimonies have also informed submissions to the International Criminal Court, a criminal complaint using Universal Jurisdiction, and numerous submissions to UN treaty bodies.
600+
Testimonies collected over three years of documentation work
ICC
Submissions to International Criminal Court for accountability
UN
Multiple submissions to UN treaty bodies for justice
A Journey to Justice
Peter Pomerantsev, Executive Editor and co-founder of The Reckoning Project, reflected on the deeper purpose of the production in a recent piece for The Times:
"This play is part of a greater journey to justice, where the traumas of the war are processed so that society can come to terms with, or at least to common grief for, what has been done to them — and name the guilty."
— Peter Pomerantsev, Executive Editor, The Reckoning Project
In his article, Peter explores how The Reckoning transforms real testimonies into theatre, confronting the machinery of denial and the politics of memory in wartime.
Read Peter's Full Article
Explore how The Reckoning transforms real testimonies into theatre in Peter Pomerantsev's piece for The Times.
Read in The TimesSee The Reckoning
Performance Information
Venue
Arcola Theatre
24 Ashwin Street
London E8 3DL, UK
Dates
May 30 - June 28, 2025
Various performance times
Check website for schedule
From Documentation to Drama
"The Reckoning" transforms TRP's real testimonies into powerful theatre, bringing the fight for justice to new audiences and preserving the truth of war crimes.
For media inquiries about this production, contact: press@thereckoningproject.com
Photo Credit: Dash Arts