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THE PREMIERE on February 28th of a new staging of “Macbeth” in Kyiv was initially eclipsed by the diplomatic disaster the same day between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump in the White House. The production has since become the talk of the city’s elite. Ivan Urivsky, the director, says he decided to put on the tragedy after sensing a change in the country’s mood since Mr Trump’s election: “You can’t do theatre without thinking about politics, war or the people watching.” His viewers are drawing parallels between Shakespeare’s characters and current events. For some, Macbeth resembles the bloodthirsty dictator in Moscow. For others the story of ambition, power and treachery feels closer to home.

In Kyiv, daggers are being sharpened around Mr Zelensky. For months the Ukrainian president has faced intense pressure from Vladimir Putin, who questioned his legitimacy without a hint of irony, and from Mr Trump, who has repeated Mr Putin’s talking-points. They pushed Mr Zelensky to hold elections in the middle of the war, believing no doubt that Ukrainian voters would do them the favour of unseating him. Two months ago he was believed to be dead-set against a vote. But Mr Trump’s treatment of him in early March has bolstered his ratings and appears to have changed his calculus. Preparations are under way for Mr Zelensky to face the electorate for a second time, and soon.