They call them <Babushki>: the women who wear headscarves and warm coats over their flowery pinafores even in the summer. They can often be found sitting in front of urban stations selling vegetables to supplement their modest pension. Svetlana Zemliakova's theatre production of the same name deals with grannies from rural areas of Russia. A journalist from the city interviews old women from Siberian villages about everyday life as well as customs and traditions. The play is based on authentic audio and video material but is performed in a pseudo-documentary style by six young actresses dressed as old women. They sing Russian folk songs and tell stories about their lives. This production by the PRAKTIKA THEATRE in Moscow is not only an ethnographical documentation, but also a reflection of human adaptability and transitoriness. The babooshka is always hidden in the beautiful babotschka (butterfly) - and vice versa.
The Praktika Theatre was founded in 2005 and uses contemporary plays by renowned European directors to reflect on modern reality for a new generation of city dwellers.
Author & director: Svetlana Zemliakova
Stage design: Alina Brovina, Aleksandra Dashevskaya
Actors: Marina Vorozhishcheva, Yana Gur'ianova, Irina Latushko, Nadegda Lumpova, Elena Makhova, Inna Sukhoretskaia, Aleksandr Kashcheev
Fr. 16.11: Following the presentation a public discussion with the presence of the artist will take place.
Entrance fee: CHF 35 /20
