On the theater scene, the Arlekin Players are turning heads with their unique blend of the immigrant experience and technological innovation. Celebrating their 15th anniversary, the Needham-based company is not your run-of-the-mill theater group. According to a report by CBS News Boston, they're using founder Igor Golyak's Eastern European sensibility to challenge American theater norms. It’s all about the art of connection and the reflection of two worlds.
The company began humbly in 2009, focused on a small Russian-speaking audience, as mentioned on their official website. The pandemic might have paused live performances, but Arlekin used it as a springboard to dive into virtual theater. They quickly garnered international attention with virtual productions viewed in 55 countries and snagged a New York Times critic's pick along the way. Not too shabby for a company that started out playing to a 42-seat theater.
Golyak, in a statement obtained by CBS News Boston, emphasized their desire to push boundaries: "We all have expectations of what the theater can be when we come to the theater. I want to push those expectations." Their upcoming projects reflect that mission. They'll be restaging "The Dybbuk," a sold-out piece from last season, this November and their summer production of "Our Class" will tour the West Coast.
Post-covid, they've continued to redefine the theatrical experience with live, virtual, and hybrid productions. Golyak's approach, described by Arlekin's website as "one of the most inventive directors working in the United States," combines multiple technologies like animation, gaming, and robotics. This creates a unique experience that has led to the company's recognition beyond Boston's borders and established them as a notable presence in New York's theatrical landscape.
With a partnership between Golyak and creative producer Sara Stackhouse, Arlekin continues to explore meaningful dialogues through their craft, as their productions often revolve around themes of displacement and cultural collisions. Stackhouse told CBS News Boston, "We're in a divided world and it is so urgent and critical that we sit in a room with people who are different than we are, and that we try to understand our neighbors and that we try to see things from a different perspective."
