The full-scale military invasion of Ukraine on 24 February 2022 significantly altered the global geopolitical landscape and cultural context. This has affected many countries, particularly Ukraine and Russia. While Ukrainian artists and institutions have had to contend with the destruction of cultural infrastructure, forced displacement, and censorship in occupied territories, as well as the imperative to document wartime experiences, Ukrainian theatre has emerged as a potent vehicle for resistance, self-representation, and international solidarity. But how did Russian theatre, which had become increasingly politicized for various reasons in recent years, respond to the invasion? On the one hand, against the backdrop of growing repression in the country, it has become an instrument of official propaganda and a conduit for state ideology. On the other hand, the number of independent, small-scale and underground initiatives is growing. Thirdly, many theatre artists who disagreed with the current regime were forced to leave the country and are now practicing theatre in exile. During the lecture, we will analyze the preconditions for the current situation in Russian theatre, discuss its development vectors, and explore its prospects. At the end of the lecture, listeners will have the opportunity to ask questions and learn firsthand about the strategies employed by Russian theatre makers.

Nika Parkhomovskaia is a theater researcher, producer, curator and critic with extensive knowledge of contemporary Russian and European theater. She has great experience in organizing international festivals and collaborations, producing performances and theater projects and she teaches theater theory as well as applied drama history and socially engaged theater management. At the moment, she is writing her PhD thesis on theatre in exile at the University of Zurich. The guest lecture takes place in the framework of the lecture “Stage and state. Theater, performance and protest in Eastern Europe.” (Contact: Anna.Hodel@clutterunibas.ch)