Posts Tagged ‘Tom Stoppard’

An artists’ manifesto for Belarus

December 19th, 2011

In one of his last public acts, dissident, playwright and president Václav Havel signed this statement calling for free speech in Belarus, along with Ai Weiwei, Sir Tom Stoppard and many more
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Day of the imprisoned writer

November 15th, 2010

It’s vital for democracies that we allow the free flow of information and ideas. On the Day of the Imprisoned Writer, Index on Censorship calls for a renewed campaign to support writers under threat
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Belarus Free Theatre – Numbers

July 16th, 2010

A recording of a performance of “Numbers”, directed by Vladimir Shcherban, performed in secret by the Belarus Free Theatre, an outlaw theatre group in Europe’s last dictatorship.


Now watch

Video: Natalia Koliada on surviving in Europe’s last dictatorship

Video: Sir Tom Stoppard presents… Belarus Free Theatre

Sir Tom Stoppard presents… Belarus Free Theatre

July 16th, 2010

On Tuesday, 13 July, Index on Censorship hosted a very special event at the Free Word Centre in London. Index played host to the Belarus Free Theatre, an outlaw company that defies Europe’s last dictatorship to produce challenging, contemporary drama

Award-winning playwright Sir Tom Stoppard, who has long associations with both Index on Censorship and the Belarus Free Theatre, introduced the evening:


Now watch

Video: Natalia Koliada on surviving in Europe’s last dictatorship

Video: Belarus Free Theatre perform Numbers

PAST EVENT: Sir Tom Stoppard presents… Belarus Free Theatre

July 7th, 2010

Banned in their native Belarus and renowned for staging uncensored performances underground, Belarus Free Theatre is a rare voice of dissent in Europe’s last dictatorship.

On Tuesday 13 July, Sir Tom Stoppard will introduce Natalia Koliada, and Nikolai Khalezin – directors of Belarus Free Theatre – and leading opposition figure Charter 97’s Andrei Sannikov.

The theatre company’s most recent London performances won widespread acclaim, but their fight for freedom and democracy continues as the situation worsens in Belarus. On 1 July, President Lukashenko brought in restrictive new internet laws intended to criminalise human rights and political activists who use the internet to organise opposition to the regime.

At the event, Index on Censorship will launch a campaign to draw attention to the state of free expression in Belarus. During the event we will ask you to give a 60-second message of support to the people of Belarus, which will be filmed and placed online.

7pm – 9pm, Free Word Centre, 60 Farringdon Road, London, EC1R 3GA
RSVP: bookings[AT]freewordonline.com 0207 324 2570

Reviews for the Belarus Free Theatre company:

“This dazzling production… shows a spiritual resilience that makes dictatorship look even more inflexible and absurd.” The Guardian *****

“As gripping and accomplished a piece of theatre as you’ll find in London this year… this is world class theatre, built on the raw guts of experience” The Telegraph *****

PAST EVENT: Protesting for a free Belarus

January 30th, 2010

Britain’s theatre community comes out against oppression and censorship in the “last dictatorship of Europe”.  Join the protest in London

Sir Tom Stoppard and actor/director Samuel West are leading a protest of high-profile theatre practitioners outside the Belarussian Embassy at 6 Kensington Court, London, W8 5DL on Thursday 1st July at 11.30am.

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