A wordless physical tragicomedy about people forced to flee their homes by wars and conflicts. The production blends clowning, pantomime, surrealism, and grotesque into a rich visual language—an immediately readable story for any wanderer of our age. Even in its darkest moments, the characters find space for light and love, making the show both profound and universally accessible to family audiences.

Creative Team

• Director: Nikolai (Nick) Dreyden

• Choreographer: Polina Dreyden

• Costume Designer: Olga Petrovskaya

• Sound Designer: Anya Lyakh

• Cast: Natalia Gantman, Anna Grinfeld, Sergei Ziabko, Kasyan Ryvkin

Theatre
Alef Theatre (Haifa) — an independent, Russian-speaking studio theatre.

Premiere
18 December 2024, Beit HaGefen Gallery, Haifa.

Visual Concept
As director, Nick Dreyden fuses grotesque, pantomime, and absurd to craft an emotionally charged performance without a single spoken word. Vivid images and humor speak louder than dialogue, pulling the audience into a world of feeling and motion. R.U.N. explores flight and the search for a new home through the body: rich mise-en-scène, minimalist stage design, and live sound build a clear, non-verbal dramatic language. Dreyden’s brand of physical theatre addresses viewers directly, creating an experience that needs no translation.

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Reception
Critics note the show’s unique approach in which “feelings and movement speak louder than words,” calling R.U.N. a visually rich and innovative experience. Within the professional community, Dreyden’s work is described as “a bold synthesis of contemporary technologies and actorly craft,” pointing to a fresh approach to urgent, present-day theatre.