In Performance: Igor Shugaleev – 375 0908 2334 / The body you are calling is currently not available at Santarcangelo dei Teatri (Italy)

Igor Shugaleev: 375 0908 2334 / The body you are calling is currently not available
Santarcangelo dei Teatri
July 9 23.00
July 10 21.30

Igor Shugaleev is an independent artist and actor from Belarus who creates work at the intersection of dance, theatre and endurance art. ‘375 0908 2334 / The body you are calling is currently not available’ is a response to the mistreatment of protestors in Belarus. Citizens have been protesting the rigged presidential election since it took place in August of 2020—an act that has been deemed illegal by article 2334 of the administration code — “Violation of procedures for the organization or the execution of large-scale events.” Nearly 40,000 have been detained and abused for disobeying this law. In his performance, Shugaleev opens a window for us to view the horrific reality of the conditions of protestors in his home. The piece is a desperate call for help and a plea for global understanding of the atrocities the Belarusian government is implementing.

We enter a sparse performance space where a large digital timer is projected onto the wall–it’is set for an hour and we both hear and see each second ticking away. Shugaleev is facing the wall on his knees and forehead with his hands clasped behind his back—the same position protestors are forced to assume by police in Belarus. A second projection begins that provides a translation for the spoken text we hear. Unfortunately, my phone ran out of battery so I was unable to scan the QR code to get the English translation of the text. When the voice over finishes, we are left to watch Shugaleev in this painful position with only the sound of a ticking clock accompanying him. A camera is placed in front of his face and the feed is projected on the wall above him.

Slowly a handful of audience members join him on stage assuming the same position. The videographer moves the camera around so we can see everyone’s face in this position.

A few people slowly began to trickle out of the audience. I admit I only lasted about 30 mins. The audience grapples with many heavy questions: Can I end Shugaleev suffering and bring the show to a close? Am I complicit by bearing witness to his agony? If I leave, am I abandoning him and his fellow protestors back home? If I join him on stage, am I actually helping the cause or just forcing trauma upon myself?

Igor Shugaleev: 375 0908 2334 / The body you are calling is currently not available
Santarcangelo dei Teatri
July 9 23.00
July 10 21.30

Casa della Poesia
via Giovanni Pascoli, 4

Photo by Dorothée Thébert-Filliger