The Lost Daughter (Kazakhstan)

The performance “The Lost Daughter” explores the self-identification and social exclusion of repatriates, known in Kazakhstan as “kandas.” In the 1990s and 2000s, Kazakhs arrived mostly from Mongolia and China, perceived as outsiders, called “Mongols” or “Chinese”, and envied for the support they received. Only later did people begin to understand how difficult it was for them to integrate into society.

Based on both personal and academic research, the performance examines the connection between identity and language. Playwright and performer Almira Ismailova raises the question: What does it mean to be a Kazakh woman who does not speak her native language? The play and performance were created in collaboration with curator and director Elena Kovalskaya.