PUSSY RIOT: RIOT DAYS
Described by the international press as:
• “New primal revolutionary electronic punk opera…”
• “Powerful and exhilarating… poetic, razor-sharp and disarmingly witty…”
• “Far from being a conventional gig, it is instead a hard-hitting, punk spirited and
encapsulating piece of art theatre…”
• “Stunning audio-visual experience…”
• “The best punk rock show…”

Riot Days showcases Pussy Riot’s innovative combination of live music, theatre, and video.
The first Riot Days international tour commenced in the USA in March 2017. By May 2023,
Pussy Riot was honored with the Woody Guthrie Prize and celebrated this achievement with a
riveting performance of Riot Days in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Now, a major North America tour
beckons.

About Pussy Riot:
A Russian feminist protest and performance art group, they are best known for their
provocative activist punk performances. On their name’s significance, they stated, “We called
ourselves Pussy Riot because the first word denotes a sexist attitude towards women. Our ‘riot’
is our reply to that attitude.”
Founded in 2011, the group gained global prominence after a performance at Moscow’s
Cathedral of Christ the Saviour led to the imprisonment of three of its members - Maria
(Masha) Alyokhina, Nadezhda (Nadya) Tolokonnikova, and Yekaterina (Katya) Samutsevich.
Some perceived their actions as too radical. Today, these perceptions are being re-evaluated,
especially as the alliance between the Russian Orthodox Church and Putin’s Kremlin
strengthens. It's becoming evident as Orthodox priests sanctify soldiers, tanks, and weaponry
meant for the invasion of Ukraine.
In February 2014, Masha, Nadya, and other members showcased as Pussy Riot during the
Winter Olympics in Sochi. Their performance was interrupted by Cossacks, serving as security,
who assaulted them with whips and pepper spray.
After prison, Masha and Nadya emerged as the most identifiable faces of Pussy Riot. Many
affiliate the group with them. However, despite their shared history, various joint protest
actions, and belonging to the same Pussy Riot political activist collective, their individual on-
stage performances are distinct.

Riot Days Project:
Maria Alyokhina, along with music producer Alexander Cheparukhin, initiated Riot Days based
on Alyokhina’s book. The show chronicles Alyokhina’s experiences with Pussy Riot, from their
iconic protests to their court trials and prison sentences. The content evolves, reflecting current
events like political prosecutions and the Russian aggression against Ukraine.
With over 400 performances globally, “Riot Days” has garnered prestigious awards like the
Herald Angel Award, Total Theatre Award of Edinburgh Festivals, the annual anti-fascist award
in Germany, the Woody Guthrie Prize in the USA, and more. Just recently four ladies of Riot
Days have got the honorary degrees of the Doctor of Letters of the University of Kent, and
celebrated this with an impromptu performance in the historical Canterbury Cathedral.
Maria Alyokhina’s 1.5-year detention and house arrest in 2021-2022, for a single social media
post supporting Russian opposition leader Alexey Navalny, exemplifies the climate. Despite
these hurdles, she managed to escape Russia in May 2022, disguised as a food courier. Without
her Russian passport, she still successfully crossed borders. This escape allowed “Riot Days” to
spread its message globally, particularly in support of Ukraine. Significant part of the projects’
income goes to support Ukrainian Okhmatdyt children’s hospital and foundation.
Current “Riot Days” Team:
• Maria (Masha) Alyokhina:
• Role: Text author, voice.

• Diana Burkot:
• Role: Voice, electronic programming, keyboards, drums.
• Bio: Moscow-born drummer, singer, and electronic musician. Founding member of Pussy Riot
since 2011. Participated in the Punk Prayer in the Cathedral in 2012, but escaped arrest.
• Olga Borisova:
• Role: Voice.
• Bio: Joined Pussy Riot in 2016. Former policewoman from St.Petersburg. Contributed to the
Riot Days book as a creative editor and involved in various protest actions with Masha.
• Alina Petrova:
• Role: Electric violin, drums, keyboards, voice.
• Bio: Recognized musician in Russia and Europe. Graduated from Moscow Tchaikovsky
conservatory (viola). Participated in various experimental music projects (post-minimalism,
electronic music, sound art, improvisational music etc) as a composer and instrumentalist
• Vasily Bogatov:

• Role: Video.
• Bio: Filmmaker and human rights activist. Created iconic Pussy Riot videos from 2011 to 2015
and responsible for all Riot Days video content.
• Alexander Cheparukhin:
• Role: Show producer, subtitles.
• Bio: Festival and record producer. Initiated and coordinated the international musician
support campaign for Pussy Riot in 2012. Conceptualized and co-produced the Riot Days show
with Maria Alyokhina.