A UKRAINIAN actor performing in Ireland was hospitalised after a vicious attack in which he was bitten and had a glass bottle smashed over his head.
Oleksandr Hrekov was attacked on Saturday night outside the Abbey Theatre after taking part in a performance of Brian Friel's iconic play 'Translations'.
The 23-year-old, who was in Ireland with the Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Drama Theatre, was hospitalised after the attack on Dublin's Eden Quay.
The Abbey Theatre condemned the "unprovoked, random act of mindless violence" on the visiting Ukrainian actor.
It is understood the vicious attack took place after a gang of two men and three women tried to take Oleksandr's cigarettes.
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A spokesperson for the Lesya Ukrainka National Theatre, Anastasya Pavlenko, recounted the vicious attack, saying: “Oleksandr was standing near the Abbey after our last show. He was smoking near the main entrance and a group of people tried to take the cigarette from his mouth and his pack of cigarettes.
“Oleksandr tried to follow them and said, ‘These are my cigarettes, what are you doing?’ And the group of people started to hit him with a bottle.
“They broke it over his head… Some girl was also biting him. There were five of them, two males and three females.
“We are all surprised because we thought that Dublin was nice but sometimes s*** happens, it’s life. We are happy that he is alive.”
Speaking to DublinLive she continued: “I saw the blood and a hole in his head so I was shocked. I was worried about him. It was a bad way to end our shows in Ireland."
Anastasya added: “He’s pretty good now, he takes painkillers. He is OK but he has huge wounds on his face.”
A spokesperson for the Abbey Theatre said Oleksandr was left needing stitches as a result of the “unprovoked, random act of mindless violence”.
Condemning the attack they said: "We were honoured to welcome and work with our Ukrainian colleagues from the Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Drama Theatre over the last ten days, showing their production of Brian Friel’s Translations to sold out houses at the Abbey Theatre.
"Unfortunately, one of the cast was attacked near the Abbey on Saturday evening, after the final performance.
'MINDLESS VIOLENCE'
"This was an unprovoked, random act of mindless violence, that left the cast member needing stitches and treatment in hospital. Both the Abbey Theatre and the Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Drama Theatre condemn this behaviour and stand together against bullying and violence of this nature.
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"The cast member is recovering well and began the journey home to Kyiv with the rest of the company yesterday.
"The Abbey Theatre will continue to work with the Gardaí, who are investigating the incident. This incident will not overshadow the joyful and important collaboration between our two theatre companies.
"This is only the beginning of the Abbey Theatre’s artistic relationship with our friends at the Lesya Ukrainka National Academic Drama Theatre."
A garda spokesman said: “Gardaí received report of an incident of assault on Eden Quay, Saturday, June 24th 2023.
“A man aged in his 20s was taken to the Mater Hospital to be treated for injuries believed to be non-life threatening. No arrests have been made.”
