Natalia Kaliada is a co-artistic director and producer of Belarus Free Theatre alongside her husband Nicolai. Natalia has been detained three times for participation in peaceful political and theatrical activities. Her father, Professor Andrei Kaliada, was dismissed from the Academy of Arts for cooperation with Belarus Free Theatre and was physically attacked as a result; the criminal investigation case on it was closed down.Nicolai Khalezin is a co-artistic director of Belarus Free Theatre, playwright and journalist. Nicolai was arrested four times for participation in peaceful political protest rallies and theatrical activities. His plays are forbidden from being staged in Belarus.Belarus Free Theatre (BFT) was founded on March 30, 2005 by husband-and-wife team Nicolai Khalezin and Natalia Kaliada, and joined shortly afterwards by Vladimir Shcherban. Three of them together formed a unique aesthetics of the BFT. Their Belarus performances are held secretly, in small private apartments, the location of which, due to the risk of persecution, must constantly be changed. BFT is a collaborative company using the experience and expertise of all members as an artistic resource. Under impossible conditions BFT continues to produce great theatre that is recognised internationally; in 2011 it was nominated for the Unique Theatrical Experience Drama Desk Award for Being Harold Pinter and was awarded the prestigious off-Broadway OBIE award for Being Harold Pinter, Discover Love and Zone of Silence.
