Howard Brenton, Moscow Gold

Steve Barfield (University of Human Development, Suleymanyia, Iraqi Kurdistan)
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Moscow Gold

(RSC, 1990), written by Howard Brenton in collaboration with Tariq Ali, is an epic and experimental attempt to tell the recent history of the former Soviet Union (roughly 1982-90) in the “living newspaper” style. The play is about the battles of Gorbachev, Yeltsin and other reformers who are attempting to change the Byzantine and deeply corrupt systems of the Soviet Union through the principles of

perestroika

(a new economic policy designed to produce greater efficiency and loosen the command economy)

and

glasnost

(a policy to allow free discussion of social problems and issues). The play includes the stories and reactions of ordinary Russians to the great moment of history they are living through, as well as those of the party members and others who are resisting the…

958 words

Citation: Barfield, Steve. "Moscow Gold". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 16 March 2005 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/sworks.php?rec=true&UID=9126, accessed 19 March 2024.]

9126 Moscow Gold 3 Historical context notes are intended to give basic and preliminary information on a topic. In some cases they will be expanded into longer entries as the Literary Encyclopedia evolves.

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