King Stakh's Wild Hunt

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

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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

A person wearing a grey veil stands on grass holding a miniature carousel while a group of people dressed in black and wearing haunting facemasks run forwards holding fire.

Digital programme: King Stakh's Wild Hunt

Find out more about the production and the creative behind it in our digital programme, which includes a scene-by-scene walkthrough of the show.

Read now