Ben Whishaw and Maisie Williams read poetry to raise money for Ukraine
The film and television stars read emotional passages to thousands of people at the Royal Festival Hall in London.
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Actors Ben Whishaw and Maisie Williams have given sombre readings of translated Ukrainian poetry at a live event raising money for the besieged country.
Dressed in black against blue and yellow backlights, the film and television stars read emotional passages to thousands of people at the Royal Festival Hall in the Southbank Centre in London on Tuesday.
The event, called Slava Ukraini, meaning glory to Ukraine, is raising money for the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) appeal providing aid to Ukrainian refugees.
Whishaw and Williams took to the stage following classical performances of Ukrainian folk music sung by Kseniia Nikolaieva and pianist Dinara Klinton.
Bafta-winning Whishaw read Dancing In Odessa and A Cigarette by Ukrainian writer Ilya Kaminsky, while Game Of Thrones actor Williams gave an emotional account of a woman fleeing Kyiv.
Juliet Stevenson, who has welcomed a family of Ukrainian refugees into her home, Jonathan Pryce and Kyiv-born baritone and principal artist for the Royal Opera House Yuriy Yurchuk will also perform.
The event marks day 27 of Russian president Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.
Slava Ukraini has been organised in partnership with the Ukrainian Institute in London and is supported by the British Council.
The DEC brings together 15 of the UK’s leading aid charities, including British Red Cross, Oxfam UK and Save The Children UK, who are working on the ground in Ukraine and at the country’s borders to help those fleeing the conflict.