As you walk around the streets of central London, it’s hard to turn a corner without seeing a neon sign inviting you in to watch a theatre show or music concert.

Having the freedom to be creative and express yourself through art is something we often take for granted in the UK, as some other countries around the world do not welcome those who do not conform and use their imagination instead.

The Belarus Free Theatre is very aware of this predicament as it is the only theatre company in Europe which has been banned by its own government. As a result, members of the group, which was set up in 2005, have brought their latest show, Burning Doors, over to Soho Theatre this month, to shine a light on the suppression of artistic freedom.

The show is a collaboration between the theatre company and Pussy Riot’s Maria Alyokhina, who hit the headlines in 2012 after members of the Russian feminist punk protest group were imprisoned for two years for filming a music video entitled, "Punk Prayer – Mother of God, Chase Putin Away!" inside Moscow's Cathedral of Christ The Saviour.

Maria opened the show with a haunting and horrifying visual testimony of her time in prison and members of the audience squirmed uncomfortably as they watched her dance and tell the tale of her time in solitary confinement, which completely stripped her dignity not just as a woman, but also as a human being.

A significant part of her performance was that she was unmasked throughout, unlike her fellow Pussy Riot members, who were only free to sing about feminism, LGBT rights and their opposition to Russian President Vladimir Putin, if they wore a balaclava and hid their identity.

The rest of Burning Doors also examined other contemporary artists who had been declared enemies of the state just for making art and drew on the story of Russian actionist and political artist Petr Pavlensky.

In 2013, he sat naked on the pavement in front of Lenin's Mausoleum on the Red Square, in Moscow, and hammered a large nail through his scrotum, all for the sake of being able to express himself freely. He also sewed his mouth shut in political protest against the incarceration of members of Pussy Riot.

Seeing pictures and hearing his story filled us with unease but we had to remember that was the whole point of the show. The Belarus Free Theatre aims to create a space where members can say what they think and make art out of it, as well as address every single taboo that exists within us and within societies in different parts of the world.

There was a great deal of physical performance throughout the show, as the performers contorted their bodies and swung through the air on ropes. There were humorous elements but mostly it was harrowing, particularly Kiryl Kanstantsinau’s performance, as he cried and urinated on stage, to let out the bottled up and supressed emotions from his past.

At the end of the show, someone in the audience threw a bunch of flowers onto the stage, which was appreciated by the members of the theatre group and they bowed at the end with tears in their eyes. The show was difficult to watch but they raised an important point about freedom that we should not forget.

They risked their lives and went through horrific brutality in order to find their own voice in society and their bravery is admirable, especially as they relive the pain and trauma of their pasts every night on stage.

Star-rating: *****

Burning Doors, Soho Theatre, Dean Street, Soho, W1D 3NE, until September 24, 7.15pm. Details: 02074780100, sohotheatre.com

By Rachel Russell