Queer Quark
Queer Quark
What is the border between witnessing and true experience? Between external and internal migration? Between Amsterdam and Birobidzhan?
Queer Quark is an artistic exploration of a migrant artist living in a state of split existence – between homeland and exile, freedom and guilt, survival and creation.
The text, live piano music, aerial choreography and video create a multi-layered space where a personal story becomes universal.
Queer Quark is not a story about migration.
It’s a story of choice.
About the makers
Queer Quark collective unites forced migrant artists based in the Netherlands and across Europe. Evgeniya Rudyuk is a theatre and film artist. Her portfolio includes award-winning films and theatre works: The Lamb (2024) received Best Script at the Saint Anna International Festival, and Kokice (2025) was selected for the Moscow International Film Festival. Evgeniya works through strong experimentation, genre-bending, and the search for new narrative forms.
Maria Nemtsova is an internationally acclaimed concert pianist, with performances at Carnegie Hall, Concertgebouw, Kings Place, Steinway Hall, and other renowned venues. She is the co-founder of the charity project “Music for Peace” and curator of Pavel Kushnir Foundation concerts.
Natalia Perel is a European actress with extensive practice in experimental and documentary theatre.
Natasha Smyslova is an aerial performer, sportsperson, two-time world champion, and holder of two world records.
Polina Ertel is a multimedia artist, Gerrit Rietveld Academie student. Working across installation, performance, video, and image-making, she explores generational memory and trauma.
Polina Mirovskaya and Daria Titova are dance artists and movement directors working across choreography, photography, film, and theatre.
Lidia Sinelnik is a video artist working across theatre, online formats and web installations. She works with artificial intelligence and documentary archival materials.
credits
Director and playwright – Evgeniya Rudyuk
Actress – Natalia Perel
Piano performer – Maria Nemtsova
Aerial choreography – Natasha Smyslova
Stage choreography – Polina Mirovskaya, Daria Titova
Visual design, promotion and social media – Polina Ertel
Video design – Lidia Sinelnik
Set and light design – Alkmini Damianakou
Costume design – Puk lindeman, Anna Atman
Composers – Meredith Monk, Kate Moore, Serge Rachmaninoff
Producion assistance – Marina Yemets
Photo and video – Roman Ermolaev
Rigging – Camin Arricau Cassiau
With the support of and with special thanks to: WeExist!, Wilhelmina E. Jansen Fonds, Admiraal van Kinsbergenfonds, Olga Shkrygunova, Roma Liberov, Stichting MUSIC BRIDGES, Prometheus
Globe
What is the border between witnessing and true experience? Between external and internal migration? Between Amsterdam and Birobidzhan?
Queer Quark is an artistic exploration of a migrant artist living in a state of split existence – between homeland and exile, freedom and guilt, survival and creation.
The text, live piano music, aerial choreography and video create a multi-layered space where a personal story becomes universal.
Queer Quark is not a story about migration.
It’s a story of choice.
About the makers
Queer Quark collective unites forced migrant artists based in the Netherlands and across Europe. Evgeniya Rudyuk is a theatre and film artist. Her portfolio includes award-winning films and theatre works: The Lamb (2024) received Best Script at the Saint Anna International Festival, and Kokice (2025) was selected for the Moscow International Film Festival. Evgeniya works through strong experimentation, genre-bending, and the search for new narrative forms.
Maria Nemtsova is an internationally acclaimed concert pianist, with performances at Carnegie Hall, Concertgebouw, Kings Place, Steinway Hall, and other renowned venues. She is the co-founder of the charity project “Music for Peace” and curator of Pavel Kushnir Foundation concerts.
Natalia Perel is a European actress with extensive practice in experimental and documentary theatre.
Natasha Smyslova is an aerial performer, sportsperson, two-time world champion, and holder of two world records.
Polina Ertel is a multimedia artist, Gerrit Rietveld Academie student. Working across installation, performance, video, and image-making, she explores generational memory and trauma.
Polina Mirovskaya and Daria Titova are dance artists and movement directors working across choreography, photography, film, and theatre.
Lidia Sinelnik is a video artist working across theatre, online formats and web installations. She works with artificial intelligence and documentary archival materials.
credits
Director and playwright – Evgeniya Rudyuk
Actress – Natalia Perel
Piano performer – Maria Nemtsova
Aerial choreography – Natasha Smyslova
Stage choreography – Polina Mirovskaya, Daria Titova
Visual design, promotion and social media – Polina Ertel
Video design – Lidia Sinelnik
Set and light design – Alkmini Damianakou
Costume design – Puk lindeman, Anna Atman
Composers – Meredith Monk, Kate Moore, Serge Rachmaninoff
Producion assistance – Marina Yemets
Photo and video – Roman Ermolaev
Rigging – Camin Arricau Cassiau
With the support of and with special thanks to: WeExist!, Wilhelmina E. Jansen Fonds, Admiraal van Kinsbergenfonds, Olga Shkrygunova, Roma Liberov, Stichting MUSIC BRIDGES, Prometheus
Globe
