Mother of God, Drive Putin Away

Almost everyone remembers the scandalous case in which two members of Pussy Riot were sentenced to one of the harshest prisons in Siberia. In the scenic composition Mother of God, drive Putin away, we return to this story and uncover its wider context: the history of the Moscow cathedral, corruption within the Russian Orthodox Church, and the development of Putin’s ideological language.

Three actresses–vocalists alternate between litany-like chanting, shouted slogans, ironic commentary, angry outbursts, and quiet lament. Their gripping energy is underscored by musical interventions from a live band.

Author and director Jiří Adámek Austerlitz originally wrote a short sketch commissioned by the Brno Contemporary Orchestra. A more extensive composition was later created for Czech Radio. The stage version premiered on 25 September 2025, and in January 2026 this more intimate adaptation with a three-member band was developed.