EDINBURGH 2016: BWW Q&A - My Eyes Went Dark

We speak to Matthew Wilkinson about his drama My Eyes Went Dark, which runs at the Edinburgh Fringe 2016.

What can you tell us about My Eyes Went Dark?

It's a thrilling tragedy about a Russian father, Nikolai Koslov, who is driven to revenge after losing his family in a plane crash. Holding the air traffic controller responsible, he eventually winds up at his front door and kills him. In prison and traumatised, Koslov avers he cannot remember the crime - until events push him to a wholly unexpected place.

Taking a seamless 90 minutes, the play deals with blame, revenge and the meaning of mutual forgiveness. Actors Cal Macaninch (Banished, Downtown Abbey) and Thusitha Jayasundera (Humans, Doctor Foster) give electric performances.

What was the inspiration behind it?

The true story of a Russian Ossetian father who lost his family in a plane crash in 2002, then enacted revenge against the air traffic controller in 2004. As in our play, having served time in a Swiss prison he returned to Ossetia on a wave of public support - presumably for having honoured old codes of blood revenge. However in reality this man has never shown any remorse.

Why did you want to bring this story to Edinburgh?

Edinburgh brings so many different people together and this is a truly European story with universal themes. The Traverse itself is the epicentre of new writing in Scotland and it felt like the right place to make contact with a wider audience. T2 affords the chance for a number of people to come into close proximity with the action. With our traverse staging, at times it's almost immersive in feel - you're right there in the midst of this man's grief. In some ways the play works as a thriller about getting inside a man's head - and the control we can achieve in this space should really work.

How has audience response been so far?

We played four weeks at the Finborough Theatre in London last August and the response was extraordinary. For one thing, I've never seen an audience sit in complete silence, together, for about a minute after curtain down. It was as if they were universally, together, absorbing the impact of this man's journey. Very odd for the actors, but immensely powerful to witness.

Who would you recommend comes to see My Eyes Went Dark?

Anyone over the age of around 15. We've had kids of 17 totally hooked, along with Russian octogenarians. So anyone who can listen, doesn't mind a loud bang and who wants to be transported by a visceral experience. It all happens in the mind's eye, because we have no set to speak of, just banks of LEDs. But it's for that very reason we're able to go anywhere we like over a duration of five years. Pure theatre!

Timings and ticket information for My Eyes Went Dark at the Traverse Theatre are available on the edfringe website.

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