International Playwrights: Focus Russia

Jerwood Theatre 31 January to 29 March 2003.

FOCUS RUSSIA was produced as a Genesis Project by the Royal Court International Department with additional support from the British Council.

It took place in the Jerwood Theatre Upstairs at the Royal Court Theatre from 31 January to 29 March 2003.

The first play in the International Playwrights season, was another play by Vassily Sigarev. Called Black Milk, it was translated from the Russian by Sasha Dugdale and directed by Simon Usher. At a railway station deep in the Russian wastes, a couple of new Russians from the capital are stranded with no train until the next morning. But as the night wears on they encounter the strange, cruel and whimsical world of provincial Russia.

Vassily Sigarev has participated in workshops as part of the Royal Court's ongoing work with playwrights and directors in Moscow and Siberia. His play Plasticine was produced as part of the Royal Court's International Playwrights Season 2002.

Vassily won the 2002 Evening Standard Charles Wintour Award for Most Promising Playwright. Black Milk was presented as a rehearsed reading in March 2002 and subsequently produced in Moscow.

The other play in the season, Terrorism by the Presnyakov Brothers, ran from 10-29 March 2003. Again translated by Sasha Dugdale, it was directed by Ramin Gray.

There's a bomb scare at the airport, a suicide at the office. A man ties up his lover, an old woman plots murder. At the scene of a gas explosion the rescue services are busy photographing limbs, for fun. In this Russian town everyone is a terrorist and a victim of terrorism.

The Presnyakov Brothers were born in Sverdlovsk, Siberia. The brothers created the Gorky Urals State University's youth theatre where they produce new and experimental theatre. Terrorism was produced at the Moscow Arts Theatre in November, 2002. They are connected with the New Writing project in Russia inspired by the Royal Court and the British Council and supported by Genesis as part of its work with the Royal Court in seeking out the best new writing talent for theatre. We Shall Overcome, a short political play commissioned by the Royal Court was seen as part of the International Playwrights Season 2002.

The Genesis Foundation is pleased to continue its support for the International Playwrights.