With support from ArtPower Belarus, The Last Witness of Old Hrodna was created as a theatre production exploring historical memory, independent journalism and the preservation of truth under political persecution.
The play is based on real accounts of the detention of Belarusian journalists in 2020. Its protagonist, Ruslan, is a local chronicler who collects and preserves stories of old Hrodna, only to become a target of persecution himself. His personal story unfolds against a backdrop of social upheaval, as past and present gradually intertwine.
Through theatre, the production explores identity, fear, personal responsibility and the role of independent media in preserving historical memory. The protagonist’s story shows how someone seeking to protect the history of his city can himself become a witness to protect the history of his city can himself become a witness to events that demand reflection and documentation.
