Marina Alexandrovna Dadychenko

Playwright, concept-maker, director – Tyumen, Russia
Participant International Forum 2024

Marina Dadychenko started her career while studying film dramaturgy at St. Petersburg State University of Film and Television, graduating in 2017. That same year, her debut play made it to the shortlist of the Lubimovka dramaturgy festival, known for showcasing young talents. She then pursued a master’s degree in theatrical performance staging at the Russian State Institute of Performing Arts (2019, RGISI, St. Petersburg), complemented by various advanced training in the next years.

Her artistic style heavily draws on real-life sources, exploring themes like women’s rights, homelessness, and the roots of both violence and tenderness. Hailing from a small northern city in the expansive heart of Russia, Marina Dadychenko has always felt the urge to connect people through her art.

For instance, collaborations like “Mating Dances” (2022) and “City of Women” (2022, with director Elena Gorlatova) delved into women’s rights in Russia. The first theatre festival Nobody’s (2021, with Art-group 12:12) addressed mental health issues and societal stereotypes. The performance “Nobody’s Diary” (2023) captured the moods and anxieties of Russian citizens post-partial mobilisation. In addition, Marina Dadychenko has written anti-war plays under a pseudonym, some of which were recognised by making the anti-war shortlist at the Lubimovka festival in 2022 and 2023.