Russian Theatre at the Margins of High Putinism

Russian Theatre at the Margins of High Putinism traces the development of fringe theatre in Russia over the course of the second decade of the twenty-first century. This is a period that bears witness to the conservative-authoritarian turn in modern Russian politics and the subsequent slide into open repression of nonconformist elements in society. Through a close examination of various aspects of contemporary Russian theatre, including new trends in dramaturgy, documentary theatre, hybridization of media, performance, and actionist theatre, a picture emerges of a vibrant, heterogeneous subculture existing on the margins of cultural life and yet fully engaged in dialogue with the shifting political realities of the day. Utilizing extensive interviews with a number of significant theatre practitioners, the book offers a final firsthand glimpse of contemporary Russian culture and society in the years prior to two events that changed the country beyond recognition-the global pandemic and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Consideration of the seismic impact of those events on contemporary theatre and culture in Russia concludes the study.

Alex Trustrum-Thomas, Visiting Researcher, Karazin Kharkiv National University

Alex Trustrum-Thomas is a Visiting Researcher at Karazin Kharkiv National University. His research interests include contemporary theatre and performance, the Russo-Ukrainian War, ideology, censorship, and the legacy of communism in Eastern Europe. His postdoctoral research project examining wartime culture in eastern Ukraine was funded by a Leverhulme Study Abroad Studentship. He is a contributing author to various theatre publications, as well as being a translator of Russian documentary drama for stage and podcast. He holds a D.Phil. from the University of Oxford.

Introduction1. Post-Zero: Documentary Theatre after One Hour Eighteen Minutes2. Document-Based Performance: 'New Documentarism'3. Body Politics: 'New Drama' in High Putinism4. Actionist Theatre: The Burden of Cargo 300Conclusion: Make Your Choice!