About

Diana Stein (prev. Diana Aishe) is a director, creative producer, and storyteller who moves seamlessly across mediums, from the grand stages of national theatres to the intimate world of sound and screen. Known for her sharp artistic vision, she combines the avant-garde with timeless elegance, crafting narratives that challenge, provoke, and captivate.

 

Diana’s theatrical career has seen her direct acclaimed productions at major national institutions such as the Ivan Franko National Academic Drama Theatre, the Taras Shevchenko National Academic Music and Drama Theatre, and the Les Kurbas National Centre for Theatre Arts. Her work includes bold reinterpretations like No Pictures Expected (adapted from Daniil Kharms), Hedda Gabler (Henrik Ibsen), Partners in Crime (Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt), and Gelsomino in the Land of Liars—a musical adaptation for which she authored the text and original lyrics. 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.

 

As the founder of Aparté Theatre Studio, Diana directed and wrote texts for 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 hub for artistic experimentation, with site-specific projects like pOST bLOCK, a multimedia performance exploring urban identity. Her leadership and artistic activities extended internationally, including engagement with theatre production at Schauspielhaus Graz and shaping the artistic programming of the Tel Aviv International Theatre Festival.

 

Beyond the stage, Diana is the creative force behind Duskhaus, a genre-defying music project rooted in retro-futuristic aesthetics and cinematic dream-pop. Blending her theatrical sensibilities with elements of noir and electronic minimalism, Duskhaus creates haunting, immersive soundscapes that blur the lines between music, performance, and visual art. As a lyricist and performer, Diana crafts music that resonates deeply, blurring the boundaries between auditory and visual art.

 

Diana is also the creator of Diana Stein: Culture Cuts, an incisive blog that dissects the intersection of art, theatre, and modern culture. Through this platform, she explores diverse themes such as the enduring relevance of classic literature, the narrative structure of myths, the cultural significance of iconic art pieces, and the hidden stories behind everyday objects. Culture Cuts offers not only critical insight but also a fresh perspective on the role of stories—whether textual, visual, or material—in shaping our connection to the world.​

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Some of Diana's projects, including Duskhaus and Culture Cuts, have been temporarily suspended due to unforeseen circumstances. Nevertheless, her artistic journey remains ongoing, and she continues to embrace new creative challenges and inspiring projects.

 

"Art is about resonance. It’s what stays with you when words and images fade."

 

This ethos defines Diana’s multidisciplinary journey, where she continues to shape narratives that challenge, inspire, and endure.