A sold-out Hall One at Kings Place welcomed guests for a special charity performance of Sunset Boulevard, directed by Oksana Karas and starring Kseniya Rappoport, Maksim Vitorgan, Dmitri Kondrashov and Arsene Arnaud, in support of Gift of Life’s 15th anniversary.
Kseniya Rappoport, actress and friend of Gift of Life, shared: “For me, charity is not just words, but a daily and sincere choice to remain a person capable of hearing someone else’s pain. I am endlessly grateful for the opportunity to be part of the mission of Gift of Life, which helps children beat cancer. And every performance in support of the foundation is a real chance to give young patients in oncology clinics hope and to make their world just a little brighter”.
Oksana Karas, director, added: “Once, when anthropologist Margaret Mead was asked by her students what is considered the first sign of civilisation in science, she said it was not stone tools or writing. The first sign of civilisation in ancient culture is a broken femur that has healed. In the wild, a living creature that breaks its leg dies, no one will care for it. It must hunt or run from predators. But a healed bone is a sign that someone stayed with the injured person, cared for them, and brought them water and food.
That is why charity, to me, is not something complicated or out of reach. It is a basic instinct built into human nature and that is exactly what makes us human. Thank you to Gift of Life for everything they do. I was very happy to accept their invitation to bring our performance to London and to contribute, even in a small way, to their mission.”
For the audience, the evening was an opportunity to rediscover the enigmatic diva Norma Desmond, portrayed by Kseniya Rappoport, to fall under her scandalous charisma and see her through the devoted gaze of Max, played by Maksim Vitorgan. The subtle irony and cinematic atmosphere of the performance created a connection beyond words, gently reminding us that language is not always essential to love and be loved and that sometimes even a glass of champagne can bring people closer.
Lyuba Galkina, Kseniya Rappoport, Aleksandra Vereshchetina and Maksim Vitorgan
The evening was attended by Gift of Life Patron Lyuba Galkina and Trustee Aleksandra Vereshchetina, alongside many long-standing supporters and friends of the charity.
Thanks to ticket sales, private donations and an exclusive charity auction, the evening raised over £170,000. These funds will directly support children under Gift of Life’s care, ensuring access to modern, effective medications, international bone marrow donor searches and advanced life-saving treatments that are often unavailable locally.
Gift of Life Trustee Aleksandra Vereshchetina expressed her gratitude to everyone who has supported the charity: “Your generosity gives children access to treatment and gives families the strength to keep fighting. Thank you for standing with us, for believing that every life is precious, and that together we can give children the chance to grow, to dream, and to live”.
Gift of Life Patron Lyuba Galkina highlighted the fundraising effort of the charity in its fight against childhood cancer: “Over the years, Gift of Life has invested more than £10 mln in its medical programmes – and behind every figure stand real children and families. It brings a sense of true fulfillment and the realisation that you are exactly where you are meant to be”.
A highlight of the evening was the live auction, which featured unique money-can’t-buy experiences generously offered by artists and charity supporters. Guests bid for the opportunity to visit the filming of The Ulysses Syndrome with director Oksana Karas; to see Urgant Live 2026 and meet Ivan Urgant; to enjoy a dinner with Kseniya Rappoport; to attend a theatre performance and a private meeting with Chulpan Khamatova, and other unforgettable experiences.
Dmitri Kondrashov and Oksana Karas
Gift of Life extends its deepest gratitude to Oksana Karas, Kseniya Rappoport, Maksim Vitorgan, Dmitri Kondrashov and Arsene Arnaud for generously donating their time and talent in support of children battling cancer. Special thanks go to the dedicated volunteers for their generous contribution and to Show Empire for the technical support of the evening. The charity is also grateful to its media partners and supporters who helped amplify the event, including ZIMA Magazine, Akcent UK, Afisha London, New Style, #КакМнеТеатрвЛондоне, Konstantin Pinaev and Aliona Muchinskaya.
As Gift of Life marks 15 years of saving children’s lives, this special performance of Sunset Boulevard became more than a theatrical event, it was a powerful reminder that when art and compassion come together, they create real and lasting impact.
Photo credit: Valentina Korabelnikova