A dark musical comedy that follows Timur, a dutiful Soviet citizen, and his unhinged “Mother Russia” puppet, Comrade Bucket.
Like a true believer, Timur patiently tolerates the complexities of the USSR, knowing that a better future is almost here. His local commander, Comrade Bucket, a puppet named after an enameled Soviet bucket, encourages him to embrace the collective ways of living. But when the Soviet Union empire begins to crumble, so too does Timur’s Soviet identity.
In The Great Soviet Bucket, Kazakh-American opera singer Timur (backed by a cadre of brilliant musician-performers) uses the Soviet songs of his childhood to ask pressing questions about the intertwined forces of identity, politics, and history.
The Great Soviet Bucket is co-commissioned by Miami Light Project and Beth Morrison Projects with support from the National Performance Network. Developed and Produced by Beth Morrison Projects.
Created by Timur and Sandra Powers
Starring Timur
Developed and Produced by Beth Morrison Projects
Beth Morrison Projects: Producer
Timur: Creator & Performer
Sandra Powers: Creator, Director & Visual Design
Christopher Kuhl: Lighting Designer
Sindy Butz: Costume Designer
Rachel Burson: Puppet Designer
Matt Podd: Pianist
Yvette Cornelia Holzwarth: Violinist
The Great Soviet Bucket is a National Performance Network/Visual Artists Network (NPN/VAN) Creation and Development Fund Project co-commissioned by Beth Morrison Projects in partnership with Miami Light Project and NPN.