For the first time in St. Petersburg, the literary-musical project «Performance in the Dark» will be presented. Audience members will find themselves in conditions of absolute darkness and will «see» the performance through sound, emotions, and their own imagination. The project is being implemented with the support of the Presidential Fund for Cultural Initiatives.
«Performance in the Dark» — is an immersive format of literary-musical performances in which sight is deliberately excluded. Costumes, sets, and the actors' gestures disappear. The voices of the performers, live music, and the power of each audience member’s own imagination come to the fore. The project creates a deep emotional experience, expands the boundaries of perception of familiar works, and becomes a platform for collaboration between professional artists and creative people with disabilities.
From October 16 to 17, 2026, three performances will take place in St. Petersburg:
— «The Musician»
Director — Egor Salnikov
October 16 at 19:00
A touching drama based on Vladimir Korolenko’s novella «The Blind Musician.» In complete darkness, each audience member temporarily becomes little Petrus and rediscovers the world through sounds, smells, and touches. The performance tells the story of a blind boy growing up in the 19th century and raises questions: how can one avoid becoming embittered while feeling one’s loss? How can one overcome loneliness? And can music heal the soul?
Registration
— «Moths on a Candle»
Director — Vladimir Bilyk
October 17 at 15:00
A sparkling comedy based on Arkady Averchenko’s short story. Big money and a complete lack of professionalism turn a theatrical premiere into a grandiose failure. At the center of the story is the charming but untalented actress Zelyonaya, who, after receiving an inheritance, decides to conquer the stage. Around her gathers a colorful company of «stars»: an intrusive poet, a playwright with a «brilliant» play about the year 1812, a self-absorbed director, and an actress with modest talent. The louder the ambitions, the more inevitable and funnier the fiasco.
Registration
— «The Night of Marina Tsvetaeva»
Director — Anna Politova
October 17 at 19:00
A poetic performance based on Marina Tsvetaeva’s autobiographical prose «The Devil.» It is a deep immersion into the poetess’s formula: «A dream is not dreamed to me — I dream it myself…». The audience enters sacred corners of the soul where dreams merge with memories. The performance speaks about the right to accept oneself wholly — together with the «native darkness» in which true freedom is born.
Registration
Venue: St. Petersburg, House of Folk Art, 37A Prilukskaya St.
Project partners:
- Committee for Culture of St. Petersburg;
- House of Folk Art;
- Institute of Cultural Programs;
- Art Cluster «Tavrida»;
- Creative Industries Agency;
- Federation of Creative Industries;
- Public Association «Union of All-Russian and Leading Organizations of Disabled People ‘AbiArt'";
- All-Russian Public Movement «Volunteers of Culture.»
*Creator and rights holder of the project:
State Budgetary Cultural Institution of the City of Moscow «State Museum -Cultural Center ‘Integration' named after
Project organizer: Autonomous Non-Profit Organization «Center for Sociocultural Programs ‘People IN.'" *