I've started to be somewhat preoccupied with something called the "Norilsk Transpolar Drama Theater named after Mayakovsky" (Норильский Заполярный Театр Драмы им. Маяковского)
It's a theater in the city of Norilsk, a mining city and former Gulag hotspot in the far north of Krasnoyarsky Krai, within the Arctic Circle. The theater was founded as part of a labor camp, and all the people who worked in it were prisoners. But they were known for doing some avant-garde stuff, and some important actors and directors were arrested and sent to Norilsk because the big boss over there wanted them to work in the theater.
It's a truly absurd and fascinating story. Sadly, everything I know about it I've learned either from my Russian teacher or the theater's website (the theater is still fully functional). And there's no chance I can go check it out for myself any time soon because the only foreigners allowed in Norilsk are Belarusians.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
It is possible for you to visit Norilsk, but you'll need a permission of Norilsk Federal Migration Service, or maybe even FSB.
ReplyDeleteTheater season ends in may, so you don't have too much time for documents.
Do you think people associated with the theater would be willing to answer questions if I contacted them? Is there anyone around that was involved in the theater when it was part of the camps? (I'm guessing you are in Norilsk)
ReplyDeleteyes, i'm in norilsk.
ReplyDeletei think the administration will answer your questions, if you ask on Russian :)
i don't believe anyone of them still alive, but i'm not quite sure.