Concrete Playground

Russia does not have a good track record when it comes to the longevity of its soldiers. Back in 2000, a Russian submarine named after the city of Kursk had a hole blown in its side during a training exercise in the Barents Sea, causing both it and its crew to sink to the ocean floor. Though help was offered by other navies, word went out from Moscow that everyone on board the vessel was already dead and no rescue efforts were required. Later on, when the Kursk was dragged back to the surface, evidence on board suggested that this was not actually true.

A decade later, British playwright Bryony Lavery (Stockholm and Frozen) visited the tragic tale of the Kursk through the eyes of a British submarine crew out in the Barents Sea. After tremendous acclaim in the UK, the aptly titled Kursk is travelling to the Sydney Opera House for a very brief season this October.

Produced along with theatre company Sound&Fury, Kursk is an immersive experience that places the audience up close to the tension and suspense to be found beneath the surface of the sea. A promenade set will have you walking around as a witness to the events of August 2000, accompanied by a sound design that chillingly re-creates the experience of standing in a submarine.

For those who seek an experience of the darker decisions of military politics, Kursk is definitely worth the plunge.