Play about Ossetian revenge killing opens tomorrow in London

The world premiere of My Eyes Went Dark will take place tomorrow night (Tuesday 25 August) at Finborough Theatre in London.

The play, written by Matthew Wilkinson and originally developed with the support of the National Theatre Studio, follows the story of Nikolai Koslov, a Russian man who avenges the death of his family in a plane crash by killing the air traffic controller he holds responsible. After four years in a Swiss prison, during which time he claims he cannot remember his crime, Nikolai returns home to Ossetia where he is treated as a national hero, but has to deal with the surfacing of his guilt and remorse.

My Eyes Went Dark features a cast of just two actors, Cal MacAninch and Thusitha Jayasundera, and is inspired by the story of Vitaly Kaloyev. An architect and deputy housing minister from North Ossetia, Kaloyev’s family died in 2002 aboard Bashkirian Airlines Flight 2937, which collided with another plane over Germany. Peter Nielsen, the air traffic controller handling traffic, was absolved of any responsibility. However, Kaloyev held Nielsen responsible, and in 2004 he travelled to Switzerland and stabbed him to death.

The play will open Finborough Theatre’s Autumn Season, and will run until Saturday 19 September. Evening performances and Saturday and Sunday matinees are available.