A documentary on life in Soviet Union in 1988. Contributors including Alexi Bogdanov (rock musician), William Cootes (promoter), Des Rushe (journalist), Carolyn Swift and Charles Whelan (Irish ambassador in Moscow) discuss the changes in the country with the introduction of Mikhail Gorbachev's perestroika. It had a huge effect on the underground music scene and the traditional theatre and ballet at the Kirov and Bolshoi theatres. Links with Ireland were established with Irish literature being translated into Russian and the Abbey Theatre performing in the country for the first time.

Produced by Seamus Hosey

Presented by Des Hickey

First Broadcast 13th March 1988

An Irish radio documentary from RTÉ Radio 1, Ireland - Documentary on One - the home of Irish radio documentaries.