Venue: National Centre for the Performing Arts - Beijing Comedy Theatre

Dates: October 19-22, 2017

About

Semianyki: The Family grew from a smaller sketch that the troupe performed as the end of year creation for the Theatre and Mime School in 2003. The sketch was lengthened and fine-tuned into its current form in front of St. Petersburg audiences at the Chaplin Club, the small theatre where the students of the Licedei performed.

Their success at the renowned Festival of Avignon in 2005 catapulted Semianyki: The Family onto the French and international touring circuit.

Synopsis

Think of the Addams Family meeting Modern Family, Semianyki: The Family traces the joys, the craziness, and the survival strategies of a family trapped in its own version of “home sweet home”. Love and chaos paradoxically intertwine the relationships between the pregnant yet flirtatious mother, the caring yet alcoholic father who alternates on the verge of breaking down or leaving, and their four tender yet unruly kids pushing each other and their parents to the limit. Their zany and comedic domestic power struggle extends into the audience and culminates in an emotional uniting of the family complete with a spectacular paper-flinging finale.

Presenter

: Teatr Semianyki

Teatr Semianyki, based in St. Petersburg, is composed of the six original creators of the show bearing the same name. The artists were part of the first graduating class of the School for Theatre and Mime founded by the famed Teatr Licedei. Russia’s premier clowning school, the Teatr Licedei was formed in 1968 by Slava Polunine, who later created Slava’s Snow show.