Aisha is on the run. Forced to flee her village and give birth to her baby girl in the Sahara, she crosses the globe in search of shelter. But to find it, she must overcome the terrible cruelties of nature and man.
An epic new legend for the 21st century, created from extraordinary true stories from around the world and woven together with stunning video and a specially commissioned live score.
BFT turn their unflinching eye towards the global issue of man-made destruction, creating a contemporary folk tale for a globalised world.
Age Guidance 12+ (scenes of a distressing nature)
Reviews:
‘We are prodded, provoked and moved by poetic beauty and theatrical aestheticism, but also forced to open our eyes and ears to worlds beyond our own.’ Horizon Arts Magazine
‘While looking at their own experience, company has a knack of making us look at ourselves.’ The Guardian
‘A profoundly unsettling and uncompromising show.’ What’s One Stage
‘Mesmerizing, ethereal and unapologetically beautiful.’ Theatre Bubble
‘A thought-provoking production that should shame us all.’ British Theatre Guide
‘The company is at its best in physical theatre.’ The Flaneur
Tweets from our audience…
Bridgette ’#RedForest by @BFreeTheatre is beautifully put together and painful to walk away from. Its a show that will resonate. @youngvictheatre‘
Sian Davila ’@BFreeTheatre #RedForest thought provoking and ultimately unafraid to speak the truth.’
Adele Jayne Harris ’Red Forest, @BFreeTheatre at @youngvictheatre - incredible. Seen nothing like it before, emotionally captivating and hard hitting. #nowords‘
Jennifer Holman ’Saw the most awesome, brilliant, harrowing production @youngvictheatre, Red Forest performed by the wonderful, talented and brave @BFreeTheatre‘
Alex Farrow ‘Beautiful images, excellent stage craft & harrowing physicality. A complex tackling of environmental refugees. #RedForest @youngvictheatre‘
Reviews:
Devised and performed by Belarus Free Theatre
A Belarus Free Theatre and Young Vic co-production, commissioned by LIFT and Melbourne International Festival
Performers, devisers and contributors:
Pavel Haradnitski
Kiryl Kanstantsinau
Michal Keyamo
Stephanie Pan
Francesco Petruzzelli
Jeremy Proulx
Maryia Sazonava
Nastassia Shcherbak
Philippe Spall
Andrei Urazau
Eleanor Westbrook
Additional contributors:
Viktoriya Biran
Siarhei Kvachonak
Josh Coates
Franziska Haberlach
Patrick Walshe McBride
Direction, Script and Stage Design: Nicolai Khalezin
Executive Producer and Co-Writer: Natalia Kaliada
Composer and Musician: Arkadiy Yushin
Second Composer and Musician: Ignatius Sokal
Producer and Dramaturg: Fenella Dawnay
Video and Lighting Designer: Andrew Crofts
Sound Designer: David Gregory
Movement and Rehearsal Director: Bridget Fiske
Movement Co-Director: Maryia Sazonava
Dress Design and Additional Music: Stephanie Pan
Stage Manager: Svetlana Sugako
Assistant Director: Nadia Brodskaya
Translation: Allaksandr Charniakovich, Ignatius Sokal, Sasha Padziarei, Sasha Plaige, Daniella Kaliada, Yuri Kaliada
Research Teams:
Australia, Nigeria, Bangladesh and India: Bridget Fiske and Andrew Crofts
Brazil and Morocco: Natalia Kaliada and Nicolai Khalezin
Belarus (zones contaminated by Chernobyl): Viktoriya Biran, Pavel Haradnitski and Andrei Irazai
South Dakota, USA: Arkadi y Yushin
Morecambe Bay: Josh Coates
Trywern Valley, St Kilda, Maldives and Syria: Patrick Walsh McBride
Somerset: Eleanor Westbrook
Syria, Iraq and Sri Lanka: Franziska Haberlach
Developed with the support of Falmouth University’s Academy of Music and Theatre Arts (AMATA) and devised at their facilities in Cornwall.
Presented as part of LIFT 2014, as part of the Imagine 2020 network, supported by the EU Cultural Programme.
Supported by Grants for the Arts (Arts Council England), Eranda Foundation, Fritt Ord, Gulbenkian Foundation UK, The Jerwood Charitable Foundation, Paul Hamlyn Foundation, The Leche Trust , Unity Theatre Trust, The Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation.
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