Russian feminist activist group Pussy
Riot said Wednesday ahead of their 'Riot Days' performance in a
Milan theatre on Sunday that they intended to take their
activist rebellion everywhere.
"We are convinced that activism must touch every space, be
everywhere and for everyone," said one of the leading members of
the collective that formed in Moscow in 2011, Maria (Masha)
Alyokhina.
"The most important thing is our message of rebellion, which we
spread through our bodies, souls, music and videos: we want to
recount our experience against power in Russia and all the
problems we have had, also just as women".
The show, an innovative and transgressive combination of live
music, theatre and video, conceived to speak about feminism,
LGBT rights, and opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin,
was born in 2016 and is based on the book of the same name by
Alyokhina.
Riot Days tells her personal history as member of Pussy Riot,
between actions in Red Square and the Cathedral, arrests,
courtrooms and prison.
"Riot Days is a sort of punk manifesto that talks about the
history of the collective. It's a mixture of genres, which
combines, theatre, music, phrases from my book, original video
of our actions: we have taken it everywhere on tour, it's a call
to revolution, because art is always linked to its social and
political context," said Alyokhina, who a few months ago left
Russia fleeing house arrest after dressing as a delivery rider.
"We are supporting Ukraine in its war for independence. Putin
won't stop and if the conflict goes on the back burner, there
will be more bombs, more deaths, and more countries will be
attacked, probably Finland".
After several spells in prison, and for decades now an enemy of
the Russian State, Alyokhina stresses that she is not fighting
for herself.
"It's an international struggle, and everyone can play their
part".
Riot Days is at Milan's Teatro Arcimboldi on Sunday, September
11.
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