Artist: The Belarus Free Theater
Confronting Bodies: representatives of three different special forces (OMON, KGB, and district police)
Date of Action: August 22, 2007
Specific Location: Minsk, Belorus
Description of Artwork: The play, Eleven Vests (1997), is about violence, scholastic and military authoritarianism.
Description of Incident: The troupe was about to start a performance at a house in the capital of Minsk when armed officers burst into the building and everyone inside were taken to a police station.Up to 60 spectators, all actors, managers, directors of Free Theatre including three children of 6, 7, and 8 years old together with French Director Christian Benedetti, Director of Theatre-Studio Jerome Impilizzierri, and Assistant to director Nina Reno and Netherlands professor Boris Gerets and Production Manager Mark Jansen were arrested during the performance.
Results of Incident: Everyone was released three hours later.
Background on the Free Theater:The Free Theater is barred from performing in Belarus and has no permanent space. Nevertheless, it continues to survive, screening audiences before every performance.
Source: KadmusArts Blogs
Submitted By: NCAC