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King Stakh's Wild Hunt

Belarus Free Theatre

— ,Barbican Theatre
A lady in long kthin light blue veil is staring at the camera. She is holding a small model of a red and white carousel in her hands. Behind her seven masked figure and blurred as they move, they are holding flares.

A thrilling gothic noir from one of the world’s bravest theatre companies based on the celebrated novel. Featuring acclaimed actors, opera singers and musicians from Belarus and Ukraine.

King Stakh's Wild Hunt is one of Uladzimir Karatkievich’s most popular novels. Inspired by Eastern European folklore, it follows the ghostly hunt to free a young heiress from an evil curse.

Directed by Belarus Free Theatre’s co-founding Artistic Directors, Nicolai Khalezin and Natalia Kaliada, this show unites actors, opera singers and musicians from Ukraine and Belarus, many of them political refugees from war or dictatorship.

This world premiere features a transporting score by composer, Olga Podgaiskaya, conducted by Vitali Alekseenok, with the lead roles performed by Ukrainian baritone, Andrei Bondarenko and Ukrainian soprano, Tamara Kalinkina.

King Stakh's Wild Hunt interlaces opera, theatre, multimedia and live music to tell a story rooted in the history of Belarus with blazing contemporary relevance for Europe today.

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Running time: approximately 2 hours and 30 minutes, including interval

Age guidance: 16+ (contains adult themes, violence and use of weapons, depictions of death and hanging, smoking; loud noise including gunshots and explosions; smoke, snow foam, haze and strobe lighting)

Performed in Belarusian with English surtitles

Related events:
Letters of Hope, Fri 15 Sep at 5.15pm
Cate Blanchett moderates this vital panel discussion with Belarus Free Theatre on the impact of war and dictatorship on the children of Ukraine and Belarus. Tickets £10. 

Belarus Free Theatre: In Conversation, Sat 16 Sep at 5.30pm
Join Belarus Free Theatre’s co-founding Artistic Directors, Natalia Kaliada and Nicolai Khalezin for an in-conversation event chaired by Baroness Helena Kennedy QC. Tickets £3. 

Presented by the Barbican 

King Stakh's Wild Hunt is a Belarus Free Theatre production, co-commissioned by the Barbican, and supported by the Maria Björnson Memorial Fund, Backstage Trust, the Belarusian Council of Culture and GMF (The German Marshall Fund of the United States).

Photography and Production: TsvitPaporoty Production

Creative team

  • Based on the novel by Uladzimir Karatkievich  
  • Nicolai Khalezin   Director, Dramaturgy and Original Text Adaptation
  • Natalia Kaliada   Director
  • Andrėĭ Kali︠a︡da   Narrator
  • Vitali Alekseenok   Conductor
  • Olga Podgaiskaya   Composer
  • Andrei Khadanovich   Librettist
  • Maryia Sazonava   Choreography
  • Nadya Sayapina   Set Design & Head of Production Design
  • Nicolai Khalezin   Set Design
  • Anastasiya Ryabova   Costume Design
  • Anastasiya Miadzelets-Teush   Mask Design
  • Peter Small   Lighting Design
  • Dmytro Guk   Video Design

Performers

  • Soloists   Tamara Kalinkina (Soprano), Andrei Bondarenko (Baritone), Iryna Zhytynska (Mezzo-soprano), Oleksandr Chuvpylo (Tenor), Oleksandr Forkushak (Baritone), Olena Arbuzova (Soprano) and Mykola Hubchuk (Baritone)
  • Musicians   Five-Storey Ensemble
  • Actors   Raman Shytsko, Maryia Sazonava, Yuliya Shauchuk, Pavel Haradnitski, Stanislava Shablinskaya, Siarhei Kvachonak, Kate Vostrikova, Daniella Kaliada (in video projections only)

Reviews

  • ‘Hard-hitting, essential and furious, Belarus Free Theatre keeps political theatre alive and kicking‘
    The Guardian
  • ‘Unthinkably brave... an urgent, organic response to a crisis‘
    The Evening Standard on Dogs of Europe
  • ‘Visceral, courageous and demanding‘
    Whats On Stage on Dogs of Europe

Discover

Eyes in the photo with flames on top

Discover: Teaser trailer

Watch the haunting new teaser trailer for Belarus Free Theatre's latest production. King Stakh's Wild Hunt is one of Uladzimir Karatkievich’s most popular novels, inspired by Eastern European folklore.

Barbican Theatre

Location
The Barbican Theatre is located within the main Barbican building. Head to Level G and follow the signs to find your seating level. 

Address
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Silk Street, London
EC2Y 8DS

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