About me

Diana Stein, also known as Diana Aishe, is a Germany-based theatre director, playwright, scenographer, lyricist, and performer. Her artistic approach blends directing, scenography, and original writing, creating performances that resonate with conceptual depth and emotional intensity. Over the course of her career, Stein has directed six productions at leading national venues, including the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre, the Taras Shevchenko National Academic Music-Drama Theatre, and the Les Kurbas National Centre for Theatre Arts, where she not only directed, but also wrote original texts and adaptations. Additionally, she has directed over ten independent experimental works.

In national theatres, Stein directed notable productions such as No Pictures Expected (adapted from Daniil Kharms) at the Les Kurbas National Centre for Theatre Arts, Hedda Gabler (Henrik Ibsen) and Partners in Crime (Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt) at the Taras Shevchenko National Academic Music-Drama Theatre, and Gelsomino in the Land of Liars, a musical adaptation, for which she wrote the text and the lyrics of original songs, at the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre. Her Farewell Cabaret, a multilingual musical production staged at the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre, explored innovative methods of storytelling and actor training, reflecting her dedication to pushing artistic boundaries. Her works have been featured at prestigious festivals such as Gogolfest and received critical acclaim, including a nomination for the Kyiv Pectoral Theatre Award.

As the founder of Aparté Theatre Studio, Stein directed and wrote a range of experimental productions, including Hello, This Is Max Speaking (Hanoch Levin), Play (Samuel Beckett), The Lover (Harold Pinter), and Experimental World (Pär Lagerkvist). Aparté became a platform for innovative interpretations of literary classics and contemporary drama. In addition to traditional venues, Stein explored site-specific performances, such as pOST bLOCK, a multimedia exploration of urban identity, staged at the Museum of Spiritual Treasures of Ukraine. She also contributed to the leadership of the Tel Aviv International Theatre Festival (TAITF), shaping its artistic programming.

Beyond her creative practice, Stein has integrated theatre into educational initiatives. She taught Foreign Language Through Drama both at Aparté Theatre Studio and as part of her role as a lecturer at JCD ETRC (Kyiv), sponsored by the . Embassy. She also led the course Contemporary Interpretations of Literary Classics at Aparté, fostering innovative approaches to analyzing and staging canonical works. Currently, Stein is developing Duskhaus, a music project that blends contemporary storytelling with performance.

Skills

lyricist, music production, Musical theatre, Performance, Performing, Performing Arts, Physical Theatre, Playwriting, storytelling, Theatre Directing, theatre production

Sector Experience

Education, Music Production, Performative Art, Theatre, Theatre Production