Sara Tokina

I had the privilege of becoming a resident at the Warsaw Observatory of Culture in April 2023, as part of the esteemed residency programme offered by the Zbigniew Raszewski Theatre Institute. Within the framework of this programme, my focus lies in conducting research on the collaborative experiences between cultural institutions in Warsaw and creative collectives/artists from Belarus. My academic journey led me to study as a dramatic theatre director at the Belarusian Academy of Arts in Minsk and the Moscow Art Theatre School in Moscow. Additionally, I pursued studies as a designer of socio-cultural projects and an art manager at the MA programme of the Moscow School of Social and Economic Science, as well as at The University of Manchester.

During my time in Belarus, I had the opportunity to collaborate as a director with the Belarusian Contemporary Drama Centre and Radio Minsk. Following the completion of my master’s degree at the Moscow Art Theatre School, I resided and worked in Moscow. There, I served as a curator and director at the Theatre Leader School within the Meyerhold Theatre Centre. I also took on roles as a producer for the international festival NET (New European Theatre), and as a creative producer and curator of special projects at the Theatre of Nations. As an independent producer and curator, I have engaged in fruitful collaborations with numerous international festivals and esteemed cultural institutions.

Due to political circumstances, I made the decision to leave Russia and, since 2022, I have been residing and working in Poland. Within Warsaw’s vibrant cultural landscape, my focus has been on producing independent Belarusian theatre projects. These projects aim to promote contemporary Belarusian drama and foster the integration of contemporary Belarusian theatre into the rich tapestry of Polish cultural expression.

Photo by Sara Tokina

Warsaw Observatory of Culture takes part in an artistic residency programme for creators from Belarus and Ukraine, organised by the Zbigniew Raszewski Theatre Institute.