January-June 2021 Vol. VIII, Issue 1 ISSN: 2284-3310
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Presenting Andrei Kureichik’s Insulted. Belarus to a World in Lockdown John Freedman Abstract: Andrei Kureichik wrote a play, Insulted. Belarus, about the revolution in Belarus as the violent events took place around him in August 2020. He asked the author of this essay to organize “a few readings in the West” to bring international attention to the plight of the Belarusian people. Three weeks later, 20 staged readings had been streamed on social media apps in three countries. Five months after that, by April 2021, the Worldwide Readings Project of Andrei Kureichik’s Insulted. Belarus counted over 120 readings in 30 countries and 20 languages. This success was explained in part by the sympathy the revolution evoked in people around the world, but other forces were at work, too. The COVID-19 epidemic meant that thousands of actors and directors were “locked down”, unable to work. Thanks to the emerging technology of video streams offered by Zoom, YouTube and Facebook, these artists could mount readings of Insulted. Belarus easily, and in high quality. The combination of divergent theatrical and cinematic traditions, plus the nature and capabilities of streaming apps, led in numerous occasions to significant innovation. The influence of the Worldwide Readings Project was such that a spin-off project, Insulted. World, presenting theater works from various countries scarred by civil and political unrest, is now in its formative stages. Keywords: Andrei Kureichik, Insulted Belarus, COVID epidemic, Belarus revolution, Worldwide Readings Project, streamed theater, video apps, digital applications.
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1. Introduction If ever an endeavour were launched fortuitously, the Worldwide Readings Project would have to be considered among the most fortunate of them all. But even in saying the project was “launched”, I must admit to resorting to gross exaggeration. In actual fact, the program that
John Freedman Presenting Andrei Kureichik’s Insulted. Belarus to a World in Lockdown
