Our actors, who have resisted dictatorship and severe repression including torture and imprisonment, for the past 17 years have been forced to flee their homes just for doing what they love: art.
They have left family and loved ones behind so they can continue to make vital theatre that ensures the world continues to understand how fragile democracy is and how urgent it is for us to continuing telling human stories though art.
We urgently appeal to you to support the accommodation and existence for our actors.
Your donation is crucial to the future of Belarus Free Theatre, now more than ever.
Together we can preserve democracy.
Please give what you can and #StandWithBelarus.
“One of the bravest and most inspired underground troupes on the planet” The New York Times
For the past fifteen years, Belarus Free Theatre has pioneered a global model of activism that unites artistic, geopolitical, environmental and human rights concerns, using theatre to build a movement for democracy, human rights and artistic freedoms.
Founded in 2005 in Minsk under Europe's last surviving dictatorship, and banned by its own government on political grounds, BFT’s leadership and permanent ensemble are uniquely equipped with first-hand experience of the myriad threats facing democracy today.
Co-founding Artistic Directors, Natalia Kaliada and Nicolai Khalezin, lead on high-level political advocacy and investigative journalism from the UK whilst BFT’s 12-strong permanent ensemble deliver citizen-facing work around cultural resistance through performances, campaigns and education programmes on the ground in Minsk.
We had hoped to share more details with you about BFT's campaigns, upcoming productions and our remarkable and indefatigable permanent ensemble but cannot do so at the current time without putting those in Minsk in greater danger.
You can support our brave artivists and educators here. Particularly at the current time, your donations are a lifeline for BFT.
We will be announcing workshops held in the UK and online so please check our Education section.