The Art Against War Festival offers a glimpse into this rapidly expanding demographic of refugees from Eastern Europe, whose presence sparks cultural creativity and societal challenges. With five dates spanning from October to December 2024, this festival highlights a growing reality: Southern California must now reckon with how to integrate this influx of refugees — many fleeing war in Ukraine and repression in Russia and Belarus — into the fabric of local life

The Art Against War Festival highlights this new community, offering a platform for dialogue between these immigrants and the broader public. On this day, the festival will feature two theatrical solo shows and a pop-up art fair,  all created by artists from Belarus, Russia, Ukraine, the USA, and other countries. While these performances give voice to the immigrant experience, they also challenge local society to consider the impact of this growing group and

how best to engage with them.

Theatrical Centerpiece:

THE BORDER

The Border is at the festival's heart, an award-winning one-man show performed by Misha Suvorov.

It recently won the Best of The Actor’s Company award at the Hollywood Fringe Festival 2024.

This anti-war self-confession delves into the personal and political borders

we erect—an evocative metaphor for the real borders these immigrants have crossed in search of safety.

BRAINWASHED

Brainwashed is a one-hour solo clown show by Alina Konon (Belarusian-born, based in Los Angeles, CA). The show tells about growing up in a dictatorship. Alina brings her personal, sometimes bizarre experiences from living in Belarus under a brutal regime to the stage. Her dark comedy explores the surreal and disturbing reality of growing up under a dictatorship. She shares her childhood love for all things communist, and, through a series of absurd clown bits, she engages the audience in the process of brainwashing. 

The show features a mix of silly elements, including live cooking of soup, which is shared with the audience, creating an interactive and intimate setting. 

The director is Nathan Mohebbi.

Trigger warnings:  This is a dark comedy based on a personal experience, there will be mentions of death, murder, self-harm, and police brutality. Also partial nudity. 

 
RSVP: https://www.rimovisiongroup.org/our-shows-and-events/theborder
COST: $13-$48 https://www.rimovisiongroup.org/our-shows-and-events/theborder
CONTACT: misha@rimovisiongroup.org, or (323) 202-5875(English or Russian)