Performing Censorship

The Russian Constitution guarantees freedom of thought, expression, and information to every citizen, prohibiting propaganda that incites social, racial, or religious hatred, and forbidding censorship. However, the reality in Russia is starkly different: censorship has long been a tool for political control, particularly since the end of the 18th century. With the war in Ukraine, these evolving mechanisms of censorship have become a penal system for retribution and control over personal freedoms. This book examines this critical moment, while highlighting that censorship in Russia predates Putin's regime. It explores both external and internal forms of censorship, including the actions of individual artists and state-sanctioned protests by far-right groups. Additionally, it looks at the closure of theatre companies due to allegations of mismanaging state funds. The book provides a comprehensive analysis of how state-driven censorship functions within Russian theatre in the 21st century. Winner of the 2026 Saddlemyer Award for Best Book