On June 29 and 30, the Free Kupalauski Theatre will conclude its sixth season with the premiere of “The Next Stop,” a production based on the works of Kamila Tsen that has been described as a “people’s Belarusian detective story.”
“The main characters, an ordinary public transport inspector named Yuryeuna and her loyal assistant Harkavy, unravel a mysterious incident… The noir atmosphere of Minsk’s industrial outskirts, the pain of human tragedies, understated humor, and the distinctive style of tense trasianka will transport audiences to the working-class neighborhoods of contemporary Minsk,” the theatre says in promoting the production.
While rehearsals are underway in Warsaw, Reform.news spoke with director Aliaksandr Hartsuyeu about why he chose Tsen’s work and how much politics there is in the play.
Hartsuyeu said he was drawn to Kamila Tsen’s book for several reasons.
First, it has become highly popular abroad, with even a dedicated fan club devoted to it.
Second, the novel “The Next Stop Is Death” offers a vivid snapshot of the times. “This is today’s Minsk, which I no longer know well. The book tells the story of residents of working-class districts, people I did not know particularly well either. It is about the people who live in Minsk today, and through it we learn what concerns them and what people in working professions think about,” the director explained.
Third, he was attracted by the genre itself. The novel is a detective story centered on a murder investigation, while he describes his adaptation as an “ironic detective story.”
Incidentally, Hartsuyeu says he does not know who actually wrote the book. “Perhaps we’ll meet at the premiere,” he joked, while speculating about the person behind the Kamila Tsen pseudonym. “It seems that the author lives in Belarus. I think it is a woman, and not a young one, because she writes about things my generation knows and my daughter’s generation does not. For example, she mentions the Karchy dance venue. I remember where it was located in the 1970s.”
The Free Kupalauski Theatre often stages political productions, sometimes openly so. “The Next Stop” is not a play about the events of the 2020s, although echoes of that period can be felt. For example, Zinaida Yuryeuna, a “patriot of her country,” loves Belarus and considers it a wonderful place, yet her son lives in Poland. They do not understand one another, each lives a separate life, and she suffers deeply because of it. In other words, there will be no overt political declarations in the play. Instead, it focuses on the investigation into the death of a young man. “Those who have read the books know what this is about, and those who know are already buying tickets,” Hartsuyeu said.
The set design will be minimalist, making it easier to tour the production to other cities. It is being created by Ukrainian artist Mila Hahenka. Hartsuyeu usually designs the sets for his productions in exile himself, but this time he felt the need for a professional artistic approach.
Cast: Valiantsina Hartsuyeva, Siarhei Chub, Katsiaryna Yavorskaya, and Ihar Sigau.
Age restriction: 16+. The play will be performed with Polish subtitles at Teatr Potem-o-tem (ul. Nowolipki 2/2a).
Tickets are available here.
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