Russia/United States Playwright Exchange 2017
with plays by Mikhail Durnenkov, Rinat Tashimov, and Yulia Tupikina
This residency brings Russian writers to the U.S. and American writers to Russia, during alternating seasons, to work on translations of their work both with a literal translator, and a playwright advisor from the host country.
The aim of this program is to increase the profile of Russian playwrights in the U.S. and, reciprocally, U.S. playwrights in Russia, while fostering respect and mutual understanding among playwrights and their collaborators. Through this program, we also hope to better understand circumstances and conditions in post-Soviet Russia and how they relate to our own. We want to create a replicable model for community engagement and free expression, grapple with the realities of censorship and self-censorship and represent a balance of U.S. and global perspectives through a more relevant and culturally inclusive theater repertoire.
This season, the festival takes place at The Lark and plays will include:
October 6th at 7pm
SHAITAN LAKE by Rinat Tashimov
Translated by Bela Shayevich
Directed by Adam Knight
Playwright Advisor: A. Rey Pamatmat
Latifa lives in a small, sleepy, Siberia village, where people believe in otherworldly forces and do not believe in law. She has lost four sons, each falling one-by-one to stupid reasons. Only the fifth son still lives, but he too is threatened by a stupid reason.
Post reading Q&A moderated by Brian Dykstra
October 7th at 3pm
INHALE-EXHALE by Yulia Tupikina
Translated by John J. Hanlon
Directed by Michele Minnick
Playwright Advisor: Nissy Aya
Masha lives with her mother and goes to school in a small seaside town, whose residents are infected with “patriotism”. The absence of tolerance leads to the persecution of a girl. In addition, Masha lives with an undivided love for her English teacher. This situation brings Masha closer to her mother and leads to radical changes in their lives.
Post reading Q&A moderated by Mona Mansour
October 7th at 7pm
THE WAR HAS NOT YET STARTED by Mikhail Durnenkov
Translated by Ania Aizman
Directed by Graham Schmidt
Playwright Advisor: Katie Baldwin Eng
The War Has Not Yet Started is a collection of short stories connected through various themes. With the everyday and the absurd, with comedy and with horror, all themes of modern life. The author sees the invisible presence of war—a war which the news states has “not yet started”.
Post reading Q&A moderated by Rajiv Joseph
