with Darya Andreyanava, Pavel Haradnitski, Kiryl Kalbasnikau, Mikalai Kuprych, Aliaksei Saprykin, Mitya Savelau, Maryia Sazonava, Stanislava Shablinskaya, Yuliya Shauchuk, Raman Shytsko, Oleg Sidorchik, Kate Vostrikova, Ilya Yasinski 

In 2049, a war splits Europe in two with The New Reich, an authoritarian Russian regime, facing the League of European States, i.e., the free world. This science fiction thriller disturbingly echoes reality. It is based on a novel banned in Belarus and adapted for the stage by the Belarus Free Theatre, a company that has itself been banned in Belarus and taken refuge in Britain. The play covers the twenty or so chapters of this great dystopian epic. Seventeen actors, dancers and singers stage a very physical, direct and energetic performance to show both adherence and resistance to the dictatorship.

Cast

set design, dramaturgy Nicolai Khalezin
co-dramaturg Maryia Bialkovich
translation Daniella Kaliada
filmaker Roman Liubyi
light, video Richard Williamson
composer Sergej Newski
live music by Mark & Marichka Marczyk of Balaklava Blues
sound Ella Wahlström
choreography Maria Sazonova
videomaker Mikalai Kuprych

production Belarus Free Theatre


coproduction Barbican – Londres, Théâtres de la Ville de Luxembourg

 

with the support of the Arts Council England, Goethe-Institut, Cockayne – Grants for the Arts, The Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation, Ihnatowicz Foundation, Backstage Trust

 

in corealisation with the Festival d’Automne à Paris

 

 

with patronage of the Cercle Giorgio Strehler

 

Director