PUSSY RIOT'S POLITICAL GIRL
It’s 2014. Russia hosts the Winter Olympics and invades Crimea. Putin is re-elected. And activist Maria Alyokhina walks out of a penal colony – two years served for performing, in a cathedral, the punk prayer, Virgin Mary, Banish Putin.
She had warned the world about the dangers of authoritarianism, but nobody listened. And the Russia she returns to is more dangerous than the one she left.
Then in May 2022, facing a new prison sentence, Maria escapes Russia disguised as a food delivery courier.
What do you do when your country has been seized by people waging war on another nation – and on their own people? You get bolder.
In this extraordinary, live event, set to music by Eric J. Breitenbach, Maria recounts her story that’s fearlessly brave and filled with darkly funny acts of resistance – pulling us into the heart of grassroots opposition and the absurd measures the Russian state deploys to crush it.
For anyone who wants to stand up for the truth and is willing to pay the price.
Performed in English.
This session is made possible with the support of Rhodia.
Maria Alyokhina [RUS]
Eric J. Breitenbach [CAN]
Eric J. Breitenbach is a Canadian drummer and producer from Vancouver, BC. He is a member of Pussy Riot, performing in the internationally acclaimed Riot Days production, and co founder of New Age Doom. He has toured extensively throughout Canada, the UK, Europe, and Asia. With New Age Doom, he has collaborated with artists including Lee “Scratch” Perry and H.R. of Bad Brains, and members of David Bowie’s Blackstar band. Breitenbach also performs the live score for Masha Alyokhina’s Political Girl readings, creating an evolving soundtrack through real time mixing, sampling, and improvisation.
We acknowledge the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation - the custodians of the country on which we meet - and acknowledge their Elders, past and present.
The views and opinions expressed by the Festival participants are not necessarily the views of The Ethics Centre and our partners.