Pussy Riot, the Russian feminist protest and performance art group based in Moscow that became popular for its provocative punk rock, is now taking aim at the Russia-Ukraine war. The group gained global notoriety when five members of the group staged a performance inside Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour on February 21, 2012, directed at the Orthodox Church leaders’ support for Putin during his election campaign on March 3, 2012.
Now 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. This time they’re protesting Russia’s war with Ukraine.
“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, “Riot Days,” is 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. It was born in 2016 and is based on the book of the same name by Alyokhina. It 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.
