At the end of March 2021, an independent theater group from Belarus caused a stir online. "Kupalaucy", which was formed from former artists of the Janka Kupala National Theater, is showing a sequence of scenes from "Fear and Misery of the Third Reich" on YouTube. The group uses Brecht's collection of scenes to explore the nature of fascism. The production makes no reference to the present, but those affected recognize clear parallels to the situation in their own country. The government there does everything it can to nip critical voices in the bud. Kupalaucy cannot perform on the Minsk stages. The group is on the government's blacklist and has been banned from performing. Rehearsals take place abroad and underground. "Fear" is to be seen live on stage for the first time at the Brecht Festival.
Nikolai Pinigin (director) on "Fear/Furcht":
There is a very good quote from Brecht's play "Life of Galileo". Galileo is talking to his student. The student says: "Unhappy the country that has no heroes", to which Galileo replies: "Unhappy the country that needs heroes."
Directing "Fear and Misery of the Third Reich" was the first time I had worked with a play by Brecht. I have to admit that I am undecided as to whether Brecht fully resonates with me. For example, I'm still not sure what Brecht means by the theory of detachment. But I think "Fear" and "Life of Galileo" are ideal psychological plays, very subtle and wonderfully written. As a director, I see plays that inspire me and those that don't. And if I feel that a play is relevant for today, I am all the more eager to stage it. I think that "Fear" is one of Brecht's best plays, which suits us perfectly.
Since I came to Minsk, I have lived in two countries: the Soviet Union and independent Belarus. I can't say that it was easier to make art in the Soviet era. Because you have the opportunity to work as a great choreographer, you can stage operas, you can be an artist. But if you work with the written word and want to remain relevant, sooner or later you come into conflict with "power" as we know it. As you may know, Yuri Lyubimov, the director of the Taganka Theater, was stripped of his citizenship and expelled from the country. And this didn't just start yesterday or today. If you want to be relevant, you should give your audience answers, answers to their questions. Or at least make them think about the issues that concern us all today. As far as art is concerned, we are now in a danger zone.
Performance rights:
Suhrkamp Publishing House / Brecht Heirs
Recording and streaming audience discussion as part of BRECHT DIGITAL. Supported within the framework of "dive in. Program for digital interactions" of the German Federal Cultural Foundation, funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) in the NEUSTART KULTUR program."
Nikolai Pinigin (director) on "Fear/Furcht":
There is a very good quote from Brecht's play "Life of Galileo". Galileo is talking to his student. The student says: "Unhappy the country that has no heroes", to which Galileo replies: "Unhappy the country that needs heroes."
Directing "Fear and Misery of the Third Reich" was the first time I had worked with a play by Brecht. I have to admit that I am undecided as to whether Brecht fully resonates with me. For example, I'm still not sure what Brecht means by the theory of detachment. But I think "Fear" and "Life of Galileo" are ideal psychological plays, very subtle and wonderfully written. As a director, I see plays that inspire me and those that don't. And if I feel that a play is relevant for today, I am all the more eager to stage it. I think that "Fear" is one of Brecht's best plays, which suits us perfectly.
Since I came to Minsk, I have lived in two countries: the Soviet Union and independent Belarus. I can't say that it was easier to make art in the Soviet era. Because you have the opportunity to work as a great choreographer, you can stage operas, you can be an artist. But if you work with the written word and want to remain relevant, sooner or later you come into conflict with "power" as we know it. As you may know, Yuri Lyubimov, the director of the Taganka Theater, was stripped of his citizenship and expelled from the country. And this didn't just start yesterday or today. If you want to be relevant, you should give your audience answers, answers to their questions. Or at least make them think about the issues that concern us all today. As far as art is concerned, we are now in a danger zone.
Performance rights:
Suhrkamp Publishing House / Brecht Heirs
Recording and streaming audience discussion as part of BRECHT DIGITAL. Supported within the framework of "dive in. Program for digital interactions" of the German Federal Cultural Foundation, funded by the Federal Government Commissioner for Culture and the Media (BKM) in the NEUSTART KULTUR program."
Jan-Pieter Fuhr
with
martini Park