We'll discuss the differences in approaches to dramaturgy in European and Russian theater, text creation strategies, trends, and themes. We'll discuss the difference between "author" and "playwright," and how auteur theater operates in Germany from a market and industry perspective. We'll explore the limitations contemporary theater authors face and the differences between working in a state theater and on an independent stage. And, of course, we won't ignore the most pressing issue: how to reinvent yourself as an author in a new linguistic and cultural environment.
Polina Borodina is a playwright, screenwriter, and teacher. Her plays have repeatedly won the Play of the Year award, been shortlisted for all renowned Russian-language drama festivals, and have won numerous competitions. Polina curated the Za!tekst festival for many years, served as program director of the Center for Contemporary Drama, and was artistic director of the Lyubimovka festival. Productions of her plays have been nominated for and won the Golden Mask award. She teaches playwriting and creative writing and directs laboratories. Polina's plays have been performed throughout Russia, as well as in Latvia, Estonia, Finland, and Germany. Her work spans various genres and genres: existential dramas, documentary texts, site-specific projects, and theatrical installations. During the 2024/2025 season, she was a resident artist at Berlin's Deutsches Theater. Her latest play, "Berlin Syndrome," was performed at the Voices Festival in 2024 and staged at the Munich Academy of Performing Arts. Her play, "The Forest," was adapted for the Grunewald Promenade. Her most recent major project is the playwriting for "My Beloved Country," based on the book by Elena Kostyuchenko, which received international critical acclaim.