What does it take to be a true activist? Are we all, as a collective capable of making real difference or is it just too easy to be apathetic, to feign interest and sit behind a computer screen, pounding out social media posts with the half-hearted hope you’ve done enough? Or do many of us just feel powerless as to how to instrument change? Inside Pussy Riot wants us to really think about what we’re passionate about and whether we believe enough to stand behind that opinion. At the risk of sounding exhausted and repetitive, there’s just so much that feels well, wrong at the moment: the nightmarish rise of Trump, Putin and Kim Jong-un: the revelations of the extent to which toxic masculinity has control over Hollywood in the form of Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey (and this doesn’t even come close to what is happening all over the world). But as a result of this huge storm of shit we have seen people using their voices and gathering strength to rise up and realise that they/we are the majority, not those that appear to have the power.
In February 2012, Pussy Riot, a Russian post-punk feminist art collective staged a performance inside Moscow’s Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in protest against Putin and, after the Orthodox clergy presented this as sacrilege, three of the group’s members were arrested. Six months later, in August, they were convicted by a judge and sentenced to two years in a penal colony. Inside Pussy Riot is based on the experiences of Nadya Tolokonnikova, who, after being released and suffering horrific injustice and violence stills continues to use her voice to help others. The immersive show is also created in collaboration with Olivier nominated, Les Enfants Terribles and co-written with Artistic Director, Oliver Lansley. For anyone who has seen this company’s previous work, you’re not going to be even remotely surprised by the surrealist, circus-feel of their latest.
The show feels like a mix of contradictions that both do and don’t work and honestly, your ‘enjoyment’ or experience really will depend on why you’re seeing it and how you feel beforehand. I felt sweaty and not at peace with the situation. Who wants to experience prison life? I felt I had to prepare for the worst because this is what had to happen to ensure I understood the severity of what Tolokonnikova and her fellow group members went through. I wanted to understand and to experience as much as possible but at the same time, couldn’t think of anything worse. The contradictions lie in the important, necessary subject matter and the fact that at the end of the day, this is theatre and there will always be something that ensures you are safe and separate. An instance very early on of breaking the fourth wall, reminds participants that despite the anxiety they are feeling, they are absolutely not going to go through what Pussy Riot went through. It feels too safe. The set and general feel – heavily in the style of Les Enfants Terribles keeps the tone hyperbolic and ridiculous because yes, the reasons for Tolokonnikova’s incarceration were just this, however, it generates too much light-heartedness and humour to completely take you ‘there’.
This is very difficult to criticise because though the theatrical element of Inside Pussy Riot isn’t complete successful, ultimately you are made to feel empowered and hungry to make change, especially during a very dark and brilliant moment at the latter end of the experience. It provokes discussion, hopefully reminds those that are liberal minded that it is all too easy to be complacent and that despite the privileges many of us have in some form or another, we can and should use it to help others. I was and I’m sure you will be too, made all the more aware that anything you do to speak out, no matter the size can be enough. This is definitely a show to share with friends and strangers alike and to talk about it afterwards over a misleadingly strong shot of vodka (or three).

Inside Pussy Riot is playing the Saatchi Gallery until December 24. For more information and tickets, see www.saatchigallery.com/art/inside-pussy-riot.php