Continuous Mapping: project review

In September 2021, I had the privilege of directing an experimental theatre production in collaboration with The Scientific Theater Laboratory of the Ural Industrial Biennial. This unique project seamlessly melded multidisciplinary performance art with sociological research.

Together with my playwright, Alina Zhurina, we crafted a performance that was as much research as it was theater. Our approach involved the utilization of surveys, focus group materials, and quantitative data provided by “Yandex.Maps” analysts.

Participants in this endeavor found themselves engaging with a discreet, unconventional, and urban “other.” While listening to a podcast, they chronicled their experiences in travel journals. The narrative weaved together personal accounts with theoretical insights. Each subsequent participant followed in the footsteps of those who came before, leaving an indelible mark on the cityscape.

The process of creating a performance centered on the city, with its residents as the main characters, was an immensely rewarding experience.

For a deeper understanding of this intricate theatre/anthropology project, I have provided a translation of an article from the Kultura Yekaterinburga (Культура Екатеринбурга) media portal below, which serves as an excellent resource to delve into the intricacies of our work.