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Ukrainian refugees stage concert on cruise ship

BBC Olexandra 16, Arina 15 and Anastasia, 12BBC
(L-R) Olexandra, Arina and Anastasia were among the children taking part in the Christmas concert on the MS Ambition

The theatre onboard the MS Ambition is usually used for entertaining tourists on summer cruises around the waters of northern Europe.

But since September the 1,750-capacity vessel has been docked on the River Clyde and home to families arriving in Scotland from war-torn Ukraine.

With hundreds of children on board, education and entertainment have been critical with the refugees quickly organising arts and activities for themselves.

On Saturday this culminated in a Christmas concert for the MS Ambition's residents with dancing, singing, poetry and gymnastics all on show.

One of the organisers, Nataliie Pidruchna - who runs the children's programme on the ship - said the show and the regular arts work they do was vital for the young people on board.

She said: "Children ask us when we can start, where we can we show our talents and that we understand - the world must know about our children.

"It is very important. For example we have a ballerina on board, she has done ballet since she was three-years-old and when the war starts she must come here and didn't know what she must do.

"She cries and she stops speaking to everyone. Then she came to us and she said, oh I can start again. Her mother said thank-you as she started to speak, laugh and dance again."

Landry & Kling Children onboard the the MS Ambition practising for the Christmas showLandry & Kling
Children on board the the MS Ambition practising for the Christmas show
Joyce Landry and Nataliie Pidruchna
Joyce Landry and Nataliie Pidruchna help to organise cultural activities on the ship

Joyce Landry, of the Miami-based Landry and Kling Global Cruise Services firm, said the activities on the ship were also important for the adults.

She said: "By having the children feel happy and fulfilled, the parents are also happy.

"So they are out looking for jobs, looking for places to live and having the children be able to express themselves this way helps this entire process."

Arina, 15, read some poetry at the Christmas concert and also has some art she made displayed on board.

She said: "My poetry is about what I feel about all of this situation, and what I want to say to other people who maybe don't understand.

"This is my first experience of this sort of thing and I am very happy to be a part of this."