The play “Insulted. Belarus(sia)” was written by Andrei Kureichik, the well-known Belarusian playwright and member of the Coordination Council of Belarus. It tells the story of the first month of the Belarusian revolution, its ups and downs on the eve of the inevitable democratization of the country after 26 years of dictatorship. All characters have real prototypes, in some you will recognize former and current leaders of the country, in others - incredible Belarusians who have gone out to battle the totalitarian machine, sometimes at the cost of their lives, their freedom, and their loved ones. They represent polar points of view in the awakened Belarusian society. The author seeks to understand how the Belarusian revolution differs from Prague in 1968, Russia in 1991 and Ukraine in 2014. He tells of the tragic escalation of violence and repression employed by the authorities to repress freedom-seeking Belarusians with bayonets and clubs, and how solidarity, truth and faith in human values inevitably lead to victory over evil.
In solidarity with the people and theater community of Belarus, also Daugavpils theater present readings of Andrei Kureichik's play, "Insulted. Belarus(sia)." Readings of the play are happening worldwide and more than 50 theatres all over the world have already presented readings and performances.
The reading of the play at the Daugavpils Theater was initiated by Stefan Eriksson, Director of the Nordic Council of Ministers' Office in Latvia. From 2008 to 2012, he was the Swedish Ambassador to Belarus, but before that he headed the Belarusian branch of the Swedish Embassy in Moscow. Eriksson admits that the idea to read this play at the Daugavpils Theater came to him after it was staged by the Royal Swedish Theater in Stockholm. Stefan Eriksson believes that readings of this play is very important: “No one has absolute truth. But it seems to me that Kureichik's view of this time is very important. He speaks on behalf of a many people in Belarus who are currently in an extremely difficult situation."
The readings is supported by the Nordic Council of Ministers' Office in Latvia, the Swedish Embassy in Latvia and the portal CHAYKA.lv
