Belarusian Drama Takes Shanghai Stage For First Time

"My Homeland" is an emotional journey that mixes humor and reflection. On stage, laughter often outpaces the audience, highlighting the play's ironic undertones. Yet beneath the surface, the production encourages viewers to engage with universal human experiences, from hope and dreams to the choices that shape our lives.

"Evening" tells a similar story in a different style. Centered on three elderly residents of a nearly abandoned village, the play explores life's full cycle – from youth to old age – and reminds us that it is never too late to make choices and celebrate life.

For the actors, the tour is as much a challenge as a performance. Following the Stanislavski system, they live the emotions from within, ensuring that audiences truly feel each moment.

"We first experience the emotions inside, and they appear on our faces," says Vladislav Vilenchyts. "Once you've truly lived it, it doesn't just let go. It takes time to return to normal life."

Director Anastasiya Vasilevich emphasizes the theatre's core mission.

"Theater is about bringing people back to themselves," she says. "It's reflection, it's catharsis. We cleanse the audience through confronting hardships and find meaning in the experience."

The troupe's focus on energy is also central to their performances. As Svetlana Navumenka explains, "Audiences may not understand every word, but they feel the energy on stage. That's what draws people to theatre. It's what makes a performance memorable."

The tour marks a milestone for Belarusian drama, bringing a deeply personal and psychological approach to audiences in Shanghai, and demonstrating the universal power of theatre to connect, reflect and move.