Mum
When Olya was four years old, her mother died. Before her death, during the last half-year of her life, she wrote twenty-four letters to her daughter, one for each birthday until Olya turned twenty-eight. That was her mother’s age when she passed away and now it is exactly Olya’s age. She has only the last letter to open…
That is the starting point of the monodrama Mum by Asya Voloshina (b. 1985), who belongs among the most important contemporary Russian playwrights. Much like other texts by the same author, this play feels absolutely authentic and credible. Voloshina works brilliantly with language and her heroine is completely honest, confiding her mishaps, unhappy loves, unfulfilled desires as well as depression. She describes even the darkest moments of her life, embarrassing situations and hopelessness with such a detached view, humour and irony that laughter and cold chills go hand in hand.
Immediately after Ukraine was attacked by Russian troops, Asya Voloshina left her country and settled down in Israel. “I loved my homeland until 24 February 2022 and I even tried to make excuses for it, and for myself. But the Russia of today is a country of murderers. There are no more nuances,” she wrote on her Facebook profile. Although she is facing different hateful messages and threats, she continues being active in fighting against the deceitful Russian propaganda and publically supporting Ukraine.
Listen to the Drama at the Prix Bohemia Radio festival!
When: Wednesday 18th October 2023 | 11:00 – 12:00
Where: Film hall, Arts Centre UP
Entrance: Free admission with accreditation
Join us in going green! Download the scripts of drama into your mobile device and be paperless.
Look at the detailed program of the listening session.
Cast: Tereza Dočkalová
Dramaturgy: Marina Feltlová
Director: Tomáš Soldán
Premiere: 5. 4. 2022
