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Ivanov family’s New Year tree

Black and white image of people sitting or standing in a dark room, sleeping. In the background, there is a projected image on the wall of a group of ladies sleeping next to a Christmas tree.

28th December 2012

Ivanov family’s New Year tree is a staging of the 1938 play, Christmas at the Ivanovs’ by Alexander Ivanovich Vvedensky, the preeminent early Soviet-era avant-gardist writer.

An unexplained murder rips through the heart of family festivities on Christmas Eve as a macabre story starts to unfold. Though never performed during Vvedensky’s lifetime, this largely overlooked experimental play remains as astonishingly prescient today as it was in the 1930s reminding us why absurdism, which holds nothing as absolute, is so feared by totalitarian regimes.

GALLERY

Black and white image of nine performers are standing in one line, smiling. They are all wearing a festive clothing.

Black and white image of people sitting or standing in a dark room, sleeping. In the background, there is a projected image on the wall of a group of ladies sleeping next to a Christmas tree.

Black and white image of six performers sitting on an array of chairs lined up along the wall. One other performer is sitting in the middle by the knee and is playing with a beheaded doll. One other performer is standing next to him, seemingly dancing. Everyone is in a festive clothing.

Black and white image of people are sitting on a chair along the wall. Two couple stands in the middle showing off a wheelbarrow position.

Black and white image of seven performers chanting and showing a move with one arm in the air. There is one performer in the middle who seems to be casting a spell to a beheaded doll.

Black and white image close up to the performer casting spell on a beheaded doll. Other performers are sitting around the witch

Black and white image of a performer in the middle wearing a ushanka hat. She has handcuffs on her wrists which are linked together with a long tinsel. The performer is holding a broken doll, the head on the right and and the body on the left. Other performers are sitting on a chair looking at the performer in the middle.

Broken doll is lying on the floor. One performer with a venetian mask is walking around the broken doll, holding his jacket with his arms spread out.

Black and white image of a performer standing in a middle showing off a dance move while the others sit on a chair and watch

Black and white image of a performer with a ushanka hat and trying to get closer to other performers in chair. The others look weary

Black and white image of a performer standing in the middle pointing finger gun at the other performers sitting on a chair. The ones on the chair are pointing the finger guns at the performer in the middle as well.

Black and white image of a performer in the middle ripping something sparkly apart vigorously. The others are sitting on a chair by the wall and are watching.

Black and white image of the performers on a chair long the wall sleeping. One other performer is walking around and looking at them.

Black and white image of a couple in the middle in a sexual position. The rests are sleeping at the back on the chair

Black and white image of a couple in the middle in a sexual position. The rests are sleeping at the back on the chair

Black and white image of a performer sitting on the floor seemingly trying to get away from another performer who is standing on a chair. There is another performer wearing scream mask and a father christmas jacket.

Black and white image of a performer in screaming mask with a father christmas clothing jumping. There is another performer on the side playing keyboard to it.

Black and white image of two performers sitting around a broken doll. Others are sitting behind on a chair and are watching

Black and white image of two performers with masks arguing. The rests are sitting behind watching.

Black and white image of all the performers celebrating something by shooting confetti cannons

Black and white image of a performer standing on a log in the middle. This performer has handcuffs on the wrists which are linked together by long tinsel. The rest of the performers are sitting in the background on a chair, watching.

Black and white image of five performers looking up at something. They are all wearing a festive clothing

Black and white image of five performers looking up at something. They are all wearing a festive clothing

Black and white image of four performers frightened by something and backing up. One other performer is holding up a doll to it with a desperate expression.

Black and white image of people looking at something with a desperate emotion