From September 23 to 25, 2026, Moscow hosted the premiere of the literary and musical project «Performance in the Dark», supported by the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives. Audiences immersed themselves in complete darkness and «experienced» the performance through sound, emotions and their own imagination. Three days filled with immersive experiences, music and new ways of perceiving art brought together more than 200 residents and visitors of Moscow.
«Performance in the Dark» is an immersive format of literary and musical performances in which sight is deliberately excluded. Costumes, scenery, and actors' gestures disappear from view. The voices of the performers, live music, and the power of each audience member’s imagination come to the forefront. The project creates a profound emotional experience, expands the boundaries of how familiar works can be perceived, and provides a platform for collaboration between professional artists and creative people with disabilities.
We sincerely thank everyone who became part of this unforgettable event — the residents and visitors of Moscow for their interest, warmth and support!
The programme included:
- «Moths on a Candle» — directed by Vladimir Bilyk
- «The Musician» — directed by Yegor Salnikov
- «Marina Tsvetaeva’s Night» — directed by Anna Politova
Project partners: executive authorities and institutions of Moscow; the Tavrida Art Cluster; the Agency for Creative Industries; the Federation of Creative Industries; the public association «Union of All-Russian and Leading Organizations of Persons with Disabilities ‘AbiArt'"; and the All-Russian public movement «Culture Volunteers».
The project continues its journey across Russian cities. In October 2026, the performances will be presented in St. Petersburg at the House of Folk Art (37A Prilukskaya Street).
The creator and copyright holder of the project is the State Budgetary Cultural Institution of the City of Moscow «
Project organiser: Autonomous Non-Profit Organisation «Centre for Sociocultural Programmes ‘People IN'".
The project «Performance n the Dark» is part of the organisation’s inclusive initiatives. In 2024, with the support of the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives, the organisation implemented the project «Concert in the Dark. Inclusion», within which concert programmes were held in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Tula. In 2025, the project continued with «Concert in the Dark. Inclusion 2.0», which took place in Odintsovo, Podolsk, Kolomna, Veliky Novgorod, Ryazan, and Penza.