My Homeland is an experimental play about identity and belonging, told through the story of Gena, a Belarusian plumber with a passion for straw weaving.

Premiered in March 2025, My Homeland explores the complex relationship between people and their homeland. The play follows Gena, an ordinary plumber from Belarus, whose unusual hobby of straw weaving leads him to London. Away from home, he experiences a deep homesickness and comes to realize: “I love my homeland not for any reason, but simply because it is mine.”

Presented as a “cosmopolitan comedy,” the work blends dialogue, narration, and stage projection to turn a personal story into a shared reflection. Instead of a single voice, seven actors take turns delivering Gena’s lines, showing both the subjective and objective sides of his life.

On stage, satire meets lyricism, grotesque meets realism, and live video, sound, and imagery bring the story closer to the audience. My Homeland is not only about one man and his roots, but also a wider meditation on self, culture, and the world.

Main Actors

Uladzislau Vilenchyts

• He was born on July 16, 1995, in Minsk.
• In 2021, he graduated from the Belarusian State Academy of Arts with a degree in “Drama and Film Acting” (mentors: M. M. Kirichenko, Z. V. Belakhvostik, A. F. Gartsuev).
• He has been working at the Republican Theatre of Belarusian Drama (RTBD) since 2021.
• For his role as the Prisoner in the play Alpine Ballad, he received a diploma in the nomination “Best Supporting Actor” at the 8th National Drama Festival named after V. I. Dunin-Martsinkevich (Babruisk, Belarus), November 2022.

Veranika Buslaveva

• She was born on October 3, 1978, in Minsk.
• In 1997, she entered the Belarusian State University of Culture and graduated in 2002 with a degree as “Director, Theatre Activity Organizer, and Teacher of Specialized Disciplines.”
• She has been working at the Republican Theatre of Belarusian Drama (RTBD) since 2001.
• In addition to her theatre work, she was engaged in teaching: assistant teacher of directing at the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts (course by V. Anisenka), and taught stage speech at Minsk Secondary School No. 27 with a theatre focus.
• In 2004, she received a scholarship from the Special Fund of the President of the Republic of Belarus to support talented youth.
• For her role as Sister Ioanna in the play The Piedmont Beast by A. Kureichik, she received the Jury’s Special Prize at the “Listapad-2007” festival.
• In 2016, she was awarded the Medal of Francysk Skaryna.
• In May 2025, she became the laureate in the nomination “Best Actress” (for the role of Stefa in Khatyn) in the “Drama Theatre Performance” competition program at the 3rd Republican Theatre Festival “Victory” (Minsk, Belarus).

Liudmila Sidarkevich

• Honored Artist of the Republic of Belarus
• Born on December 7, 1970, in Baranavichy.
• In 1995, she graduated from the Belarusian State Academy of Arts.
• She has been working at the Republican Theatre of Belarusian Drama (RTBD) since 1995.

Awards and Honors:

• 1998: Laureate of the Republican Actors’ Duet Competition Declaration of Love.
• 1998: Diploma for Best Female Role for the character Fanny in The Boot and His Sock (Festival of Contemporary German Drama, Minsk).
• 1999: Award of the Belarusian Union of Theatre Workers, Crystal Flower of Hope for her acting achievements in the 1998/99 season.
• 1999: Grand Prize for the role of Woman/Yana in The Last Pastoral at the Molodechno Spring festival (Molodechno) and the Slavic Theatre Meetings (Bryansk).
• 2002: Special Prize for the role of Liv in Bergman’s Women by M. Rudkovsky at the Slavic Theatre Meetings (Bryansk).
• 2003: Honorary Diploma of the Ministry of Culture of Belarus “For fruitful work and significant contribution to the development of Belarusian theatre art.”
• 2004: Prize for “Best Actress” for the role of Long-legged Woman in Wolf Songs at the XI Minsk International Film Festival Listapad.
• 2010: Professional Jury Prize “Best Actress in a Chamber Performance” for the role of Girl in Sky in Diamonds at the Melpomene of Tavria International Theatre Festival (Kherson, Ukraine).
• 2011: Badge of Honor from the Ministry of Culture of Belarus “For contribution to the development of Belarusian culture.”
• 2012: Medal of Francysk Skaryna.
• 2015: Conferred the honorary title “Honored Artist of the Republic of Belarus.”
• 2017: Diploma in the category “Best Actress” for the role of Marina/Medea in Medea Syndrome at the Republican Festival of National Drama (Babruisk).
• 2019: Winner in the nomination “Acting Excellence” for the role of Halina in Hunting Oneself at the XXI Melpomene of Tavria International Theatre Festival (Kherson, Ukraine).

Yuliya Hruzheuskaya

• She was born on August 31, 2000, in Smarhon, Grodno Region.
• From 2017, she studied at the Belarusian State Academy of Arts, first under M. M. Kirichenko (specialty: “Drama and Film Acting”), and from 2019 under S. M. Kavalchik (specialty: “Performing Arts – Musical Theatre”).
• She graduated from the Academy in 2022 and worked at the Belarusian State Academic Musical Theatre.

Darya Lazarchyk

• She was born on December 27, 2001, in Maryina Horka, Minsk Region.
• In 2024, she graduated from the Belarusian State Academy of Arts with a degree in “Performing Arts” (course led by V. A. Mishchanchuk).
• She has been working at the Republican Theatre of Belarusian Drama (RTBD) since 2024.

Hanna Lebedzeva

• She was born on March 5, 2002, in Lepel, Vitebsk Region.
• In 2017, she graduated from the Lepel Children’s School of Arts.
• In 2019, she entered the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts and graduated in 2023 with a degree in “Folk Art (Theatre).”
• Since 2023, she has been working at the Republican Theatre of Belarusian Drama (RTBD).

Nadzeya Tsviatkova

• She was born on May 7, 1985, in Maiseyeushchyna village, Barysaw District, Minsk Region.
• In 2007, she graduated from the Belarusian State University of Culture and Arts.
• She has been working at the Republican Theatre of Belarusian Drama (RTBD) since 2007.

Nataliya Salamakha

• She was born on May 15, 1981, in Hlybokaye, Vitebsk Region.
• She studied at the Belarusian State Academy of Arts from 1998 to 2003, specializing in “Performing Arts” (mentors: V. M. Raevski, F. S. Varanetski, L. M. Davidovich, V. Ya. Kashcheev).
• From 1999 to 2022, she worked as an actress at the Yakub Kolas National Academic Drama Theatre in Vitebsk.
• She has been working at the Republican Theatre of Belarusian Drama (RTBD) since 2025.

*Lineup subject to change.

Cast and Crew

• Director: Dmitry Bogoslavsky
• Playwright: Maxim Dosko
• Choreographer: Kirill Baltrukov 

Production

HONORED COLLECTIVE OF THE REPUBLIC OF BELARUS

“REPUBLICAN THEATER OF BELARUSIAN DRAMATURGY”

The Republican Theater of Belarusian Dramaturgy (Minsk, Belarus) was founded in 1990 as a laboratory theater dedicated to nurturing and developing Belarusian dramaturgy. Over the years, it has become a cornerstone of Belarusian culture and a leading force in the country’s contemporary theater scene. Its productions feature psychological drama that explores the human inner world, modern interpretations of Belarusian folklore, and associative physical theater. The performances skillfully blend satire with lyricism, grotesque elements with realistic precision.

More than 70% of the theater’s repertoire is based on works by Belarusian authors, including Nikolai Matukovsky, Frantishk Olechnovich, Leopold Rodewicz, Konstantin Steshik, Vasil Bykov, and Vladimir Korotkevich. The playbill also features classics of world literature, such as Alexander Vampilov, Alexander Ostrovsky, Martin McDonagh, Gerald Sibleyras, and Nikolai Gogol.

The theater also houses the Center for Belarusian Dramaturgy, which hosts readings of new Belarusian plays, workshops, internships, masterclasses, seminars, competitions, and other initiatives aimed at supporting and promoting national dramaturgy. In 2010, the RTBD was honored with the title “Honored Collective of the Republic of Belarus” in recognition of its outstanding achievements in theatrical arts and its significant contribution to the development of national culture.

Widely recognized beyond Belarus, the Republican Theater of Belarusian Dramaturgy represents Belarusian culture and art on the international stage.