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ETC members - Information

Svobodnyi Teatr/ Le Théâtre libre de Minsk
Address: Underground in Belarus. The post address could be provided on an additional request due to security reasons, n/a Minsk
City: Minsk
Postal code:
Country: Belarus
Phone: +375 29 613 34 17
Fax:
Email: nksbel@yahoo.com
Website: www.dramaturg.org

Svobodnyi Teatr/ Le Théâtre libre de Minsk

FREE THEATRE, MINSK, BELARUS The Free Theatre was founded in March 2005 by Belarusian playwright Nikolai Khalezin and theatre manager Natalia Koliada.
In May of 2005 the team was joined by stage director Vladimir Scherban who produced the majority of performances of Free Theatre. Currently ten professional actors, four managers and two technical assistants constitute the theatre’s staff.
Under current political system the Free Theatre has no official registration, no premises, nor any other facilities. The rehearsals and performances (always free of charge for public) are normally held secretly in small private apartments which, due to security and persecution reasons, should be constantly alternated.
On several occasions the performances were shown in street cafes and in the countryside, in the woods. The members of staff have been repeatedly harassed by the authorities for their participation in the activities of the theatre. Thus, the stage director and all actors but five were sacked from their jobs at state-run theatres.
The theatre is supported by outstanding figures of the international theatre movement and respected public figures as Sir Tom Stoppard, British playwright and Vaclav Havel, former President of the Czech Republic. Arthur Kopit, US playwright, Lark Development Centre, Scottish Society of Playwrights, Members of IETM and THE express their support and solidarity.
In April 2007, Belarus Free Theatre became a full member of the European Theatre Convention, and in May 2007 a member of international network Trans European Halls.
Since May 2005 the Free Theatre has produced seven performances based on thirteen plays. About 5,000 people attended performances of the Free Theatre in Belarus and more than 4,000 abroad during the first two years of existence.
Free Theatre attracts other representatives of Belarusian underground culture in the variety of fields, such as independent music, art, photography, cinematography. Often Free Theatre’s tours are accompanied by concerts and exhibitions of their partners. For three years the Free Theatre has been host to the annual International Competition of Contemporary Drama. In the second edition that closed on 28 January 2007 252 plays by 161 playwrights from twelve countries took part.
Sir Tom Stoppard founded his Prize for the Brightest Début especially for this event. The Free Theatre performs not only in the country’s capital but also frequently goes out on tours to Belarusian provinces. Its performances have won wide acclaim among the public, mostly young people aged 16-40, forming loyal and enthusiastic following. Also, the Free Theatre goes on tours and participates in theatre festivals abroad.
During the last two years the troupe has performed four times in France (Backstage Festival in St. Etienne, Passages in Nancy, Croisment[s] in Paris, three-weeks residence at Theatre-Studio Alfortville), Germany (New Plays form Europe Festival in Wiesbaden), Q-teatteri, Helsinki, Finland, Royal Dramatic Theatre, Stockholm, Sweden, Youth Theatre, Vilnius, Lithuania, New Riga Theatre, Latvia, Poland (Festival of political plays, Warsaw), On the Dais festival (Olsztyn), Belgium (Solidarity Day, Brussels). Theatre-Studio of Christian Benedetti started from May 2007 provided the Free Theatre one-month residence on every year basis in his theatre in Alfortville. The first country that provided a Cultural Solidarity to the Free Theatre was Latvia. The first tour of the Free Theatre took place at the stage of the New Riga Theatre of Alvis Hermanis in November of 2005.
The activities of the Free Theatre have been widely covered in major international mass media, such as The New York Times, The Washington Times, The Washington Post, The Guardian, Le Monde, The Independent, 24 Ore, Liberation, Berliner Zeitung, Diena, Lietuvos Ritas, Izvestia, The Moscow Times, 1st Lithuanian National TV Channel, 3Sat, ZDF, ARD, BBC, CBS, Reuters, Associated Press, France Press etc.
Also, three documentaries were made by the British, Irish and German film crews.
All press coverage and further information can be found on Free Theatre’s official website www.dramaturg.org. The website contains information in Russian, English and French.