Russian-Speaking Theater Outside Russia

Abstract

Following the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, various important theater makers (directors, actors, set designers, composers, playwrights, critics, producers, and other theater professionals) left the country in protest and/or out of fear of repressions. They were scattered literally all over the globe, but mainly in the countries of the South Caucasus, Central Asia, Western and Eastern Europe. Do they continue to make theater and, if so, how do they do it? Does the Russian language remain the main tool of their professional communication and creative interaction? How does the local context affect their theater productions and to what extent are they integrated into this context? This article will try to briefly answer all these questions and outline the problems that arise for the Russian-speaking theater makers who continue to practice theater outside Russia.