Finist the Bright Falcon: Screening | Oxford New Russian Society

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For over a year, playwright Sviatlana Petriychuk and theatre director Zhenya Berkovich have been imprisoned in Moscow’s Pretrial Detention Centre No. 6, facing charges of "justifying terrorism."

The production “Finist the Bright Falcon” by the Daughters of SOSO Theatre Project is based on Sviatlana Petriychuk’s acclaimed play. The work explores the stories of women recruited by fighters who virtually "married" representatives of radical Islam and travelled to Syria to live with them. Drawing on documentary sources — court verdicts and interrogation protocols — the play highlights the troubling rise of such cases in Russia, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan over recent years.

The play raises critical, socially significant questions: Where are these women fleeing to, and what are they fleeing from? What psychological mechanisms do recruiters use to influence them? Who is the ‘Finist,’ for whom Maryushka is prepared to endure suffering and face criminal charges under Article 208?

Premiering in December 2020, “Finist the Bright Falcon” ran successfully for a year and, in 2022, won two prestigious Golden Mask National Theatre Awards — recognising the achievements of its playwright and costume designer.

On 3 May, Judge Yuri Massin of the 2nd Western District Military Court in Moscow ruled to extend Sviatlana and Zhenya’s imprisonment until 22 October.

This event was held in solidarity with Sviatlana Petriychuk and Zhenya Berkovich. Attendees watched and discussed the production, reflecting on its themes and impact. The discussion was led by Maria Kroupnik, theatre producer, translator, and researcher at Newcastle University, who also guided a thoughtful Q&A session.

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