香蕉秀

We are pleased to announce a creative residency at Boston College with the award-winning Circassian-Russian director, playwright, puppeteer, and stage designer Evgeny Ibragimov, November 11-16, co-sponsored by the Department of Eastern, Slavic and German Studies and the Theatre Department, with funding from the ILA. Ibragimov鈥檚 productions have been recognized internationally for their innovative, immersive staging, in which puppets participate on par with live actors, objects and shadows. Originally from the Republic of Karachaevo-Cherkessia in Russia鈥檚 North Caucasus region, Ibragimov has been based in the Czech Republic since 2014 and is now unable to work in Russia due to his opposition to the Putin regime and Russia鈥檚 ongoing war against Ukraine.

Ibragimov, also known by the name Shaoukh Ibragim, is an ethnic Cherkes (Circassian/Adyge), one of the hundreds of indigenous non-Slavic minorities of the Russian Federation, and one of his other areas of expertise is traditional Circassian puppetry, an art form associated with the dzheguako 鈥� Circassian master of ceremonies, storyteller, bard, folk satirist, magician, and soothsayer. On Friday, Nov. 15^th, Ibragimov will present his Circassian puppet play, 鈥淎n Old Tale: The Legend of Happiness,鈥� based on folkloric sources, in which he recreates the atmosphere of the traditional Circassian dzhegu, or carnival. The puppets Ibragimov will be using in the performance are based on traditional Circassian puppets preserved in the Museum of Anthropology and Ethnology in St. Petersburg.

During his residency at Boston College, Ibragimov will also conduct a four-day workshop, 鈥淎nimating the Inanimate鈥� (Nov. 11-14, 5-8PM) for students of performing arts and others with an interest in theater and puppetry. The workshop will focus on various aspects of stage movement, ensemble acting, and telling stories through the creation and manipulation of unique and everyday objects to tell stories. Workshop participants will actively engage in a collaborative effort, sharing their ideas and visions as they work together to create a unique, original performance (registration for the workshop is required; please see link for registration form under 鈥淪chedule and Registration鈥�). On Saturday, Nov. 16^th (7-9PM), workshop participants will share the results of their explorations with the 香蕉秀 community and the general public at the Bonn Studio Theater.

On Thursday, November 14^th聽at 12:00PM (location TBA), Ibragimov will also give聽邪聽presentation for members of the 香蕉秀 community and the general public on the history and cultural traditions of the Circassians and other indigenous peoples of Russia鈥檚 North Caucasus region. It should be noted that a majority of ethnic Circassians now live outside their original homeland, in Turkey, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Israel and other countries - a result of Russia鈥檚 ruthless campaign of ethnic cleansing following its conquest of the northwest Caucasus in the latter half of the 19^th听肠别苍迟耻谤测.听

For further information, please contact Curt Woolhiser (woolhise@bc.edu).