“There is no denying that the company has a visceral power, a thrilling necessity-born inventiveness and an urgent topicality that is rare in theater today” – New York Times
Belarus Free Theatre celebrate their 10th anniversary with an epic festival featuring 10 landmark productions. After each performance there will be a discussion with leading political thinkers and activists over Belarusian food & drinks. Take a look below and see what’s in store for each post-show event. Every performance and discussion will be live streamed online for free at belarusfreetheatre.com/livestream.
4.48 PSYCHOSIS – Monday 2nd Nov
Speakers: Dominic Domgroole is artistic director of Shakespeare’s Globe and was a personal friend of Sarah Kane. Dr. Ann York is a Consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist who works closely with Young Minds. The conversation will be facilitated by Sarah Brennan – CEO Young Minds.
In partnership with: Young Minds’ mission is to improve the emotional resilience and mental health of children and young people.
PRICE OF MONEY – Tuesday 3rd Nov
Speakers: Hannah Lewis is an experienced activist and trainer for Seeds for Change. Jamie Kelsey-Fry is a teacher, writer and activist, and contributing editor for New Internationalist magazine.
In partnership with: No Dash for Gas/Reclaim the Power are helping to coordinate collective mass action for climate justice during Paris Climate Change Conference in December.
New York ’79 & MINSK, 2011 – Wednesday 4th Nov
Speakers: Sam Roddick is an artist and sex workers’ rights activist and founder “erotic lifestyle” emporium, Coco de Mer. Jide Macaulay is Nigeria’s first openly gay preacher and the founder of House of Rainbow Fellowship, a secret gay church in Lagos. The conversation will be facilitated by Ophelia Bitz – cabaret artist, compere, stripper and one time Circus Ringmistress.
In partnership with: The Kaleidoscope Trust works to uphold the human rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans people internationally
GENERATION JEANS – Thursday 5th Nov
Speakers: Gus Hosein – CEO Privacy International
Mustafa Al Bassam was part of LulzSec, a computer hacking group responsible a number of high profile attacks in 2011. The conversation will be facilitated by Dr Richard Tynan – a Technologist at Privacy International.
In partnership with: Privacy International campaigns to ensure that the right to privacy, enshrined in Article 12 of United Nations Declaration of Human Rights, is taken into account by governments and corporate interests.
DISCOVER LOVE – Friday 6th Nov
Speakers: Irina Krasovskaya is a Belarusian professor of child psychology. Her husband was disappeared by Lukashenko’s regime in 1999. Marina Cantacuzino is a journalist and founder of the Forgiveness Project. The conversation will be facilitated by Kaye Adams, the Scottish television and radio presenter for BBC Scotland.
In partnership with: The Forgiveness Project is a grassroots organisation working in conflict resolution, reconciliation and victim support.
ZONE OF SILENCE – Saturday 7th Nov
Speakers: Arkady Babchenko is a journalist and author of ‘A Soldier’s War, telling of his gruelling experiences in the Russian army in Chechnya. Peter Pomerantsev is a Russian TV producer, based in London. Oliver Bullough is an author and journalist, specialising in Russia. The conversation will be facilitated by Gabriel Gatehouse, BBC Russian correspondent.
In partnership with: The Frontline Club exists to promote freedom of expression and support journalists, cameramen and photographers who risk their lives in the course of their work.
TRASH CUISINE – Sunday 8th Nov
Speakers: Clive Stafford Smith is human rights lawyer and the founder and Director of Reprieve.
Maya Foa is Director of the Death Penalty Team at Reprieve.
In partnership with: REPRIEVE supports people who suffer extreme human rights abuses at the hands of the most powerful governments in the world.
TIME OF WOMEN – Monday 9th Nov
Speakers: Iryna Khalip whose story features in the play, is an award winning Belarusian journalist. Abigail Fielding-Smith is Senior Reporter with the Bureau of Investigative Journalism. The conversation will be facilitated by Shereen Nanjiani – a radio presenter with BBC Radio Scotland.
In partnership with: Rory Peck Trust is dedicated to supporting and assisting freelance newsgatherers worldwide.
TIME OF WOMEN – Tuesday 10th Nov
Speakers: Iryna Khalip whose story features in the play, is an award winning Belarusian journalist. Rachel Oldroyd is deputy editor at the Bureau for Investigative Journalism (tbc). The conversation will be facilitated by Shereen Nanjiani a radio presenter with BBC Radio Scotland.
In partnership with: Rory Peck Trust is dedicated to supporting and assisting freelance newsgatherers worldwide.
KING LEAR – Wednesday 11th Nov
Speakers: Avi Roy is President of the Biogerontology Research Foundation. Anders Sandberg is a transhumanist and crynocist and Research Fellow at the Future of Humanity Institute. The conversation will be facilitated by Akshat Rathi – a science and health reporter for Quartz digital magazine.
In partnership with: Biogerontology Research Foundation supports the application of our knowledge of the mechanisms of ageing to the relief of disability, suffering and disease in old age.
KING LEAR – Thursday 12th Nov
Speakers: Charlotte Casebourne started Public Health and Longevity – a new initiative to harness the most innovative science and technology promoting health in longevity. Dr Jeremy Chataway is a Consultant Neurologist with University College Foundation NHS Trust. The conversation will be facilitated by Akshat Rathi – a science and health reporter for Quartz digital magazine.
In partnership with: Biogerontology Research Foundation supports the application of our knowledge of the mechanisms of ageing to the relief of disability, suffering and disease in old age
BEING HAROLD PINTER – Friday 13th Nov
Speakers: John McCarthy CBE is a British journalist, broadcaster and travel writer and broadcaster, and one of the hostages in the Lebanon hostage crisis.
Perico Gonzalez is a case-worker and counsellor for Freedom from Torture.
In partnership with: Freedom from Torture is the only organisation in the UK dedicated solely to the treatment and rehabilitation of survivors of torture.
BEING HAROLD PINTER – Saturday 14th Nov
Speakers: Michael Attenborough, theatre director and trustee of Belarus Free Theatre and Natalia Kaliada, co-Artistic Director of Belarus Free Theatre in conversation – reflecting on the past ten years of the company and looking forward to the next.
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Belarus Free Theatre’s Staging a Revolution runs from 2 – 14 Nov. For more info: Ministry of Counterculture.
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