Another part of the book

The optimistic tone of the evening news was just what the doctor ordered. The war was too far away for most to really relate to or care. Many did however make sure their own sons skip the army duty. Overall, there was much for the Russian people to look forward to. Little did they know what preparations were being made while they sat around their kitchen tables, having their evening meal.


Moscow, Russia, 23rd of October 2002.
Day 1

A typical mid-show interval: one is in line for wine and snacks at the bar, while another is in line for the bathroom. Since in musicals there are often many children in the audience in the bathroom queue once can hear dialogues such as ‘You can’t have ice-cream, you won’t finish it in time’. Or ‘I’ll explain what happened in that bit later’.
A similar scene was taking place during the intermission in the foyer and the hallways of the vast building of the house of culture, in the heart of Moscow, which housed the musical Nord Ost.

At that time musicals were a relatively new concept in Russia.Unlike Western exports like Chicago and 42nd Street, this was the first original Russian musical. Nord Ost (North East) is based on a WW2 themed 1944 novel by Veniamin Kaverin, ‘The Two Captains’. With 32 actors in the cast, including 11 children, a live orchestra of 30 and a number of special effects, it was by all standards a major production. By October 2002 it’s been running for over a year and still gathered full houses. It was very well advertised and talked about.

House of Culture on Moscow’s Dubrovka street, only four miles away from the Kremlin, is a typical Soviet town hall build in the 1970s. It is a solid, concrete building with not much architectural value, made up of three floors and a mezzanine, with a set of glass entrance doors and full size glass windows on the second floor. It has a large inclined auditorium, which seats around 1500, and dozens of rehearsal and office spaces, as well as storage and basement areas. From the fall of 2001 it has been a home to the musical Nord Ost.
On a rainy October evening about 810 people came to see the show, looking to have a good time

8.40pm
Svetlana Gubareva, Small Business manager, Row 17, Seats 24-26:
We were in a celebratory mood. On that day we found out that my fiancé’s visa application was approved. This meant we could all go to America. My fiancé Sandy, my daughter from a previous marriage Sasha and I. We could all finally be together. As we were passing by the store that sells theatre tickets we decided to treat ourselves and see some musical to celebrate. Since at the time there were billboards everywhere advertising Nord Ost, that’s the one we chose. Mentality of an average consumer, I guess.

Only a few miles away, in one of Moscow’s backstreets, men in heavy overcoats were loading large bags into a black VW minivan. They spoke in an unfamiliar language. A rare passer-by did not pay much attention or chose to stay out of trouble. Similar scene was taking place in two other locations.

Irina Fadeeva, Single Mother, Row 11, Seats 48-50:
The four of us, my sister, her daughter, my son and myself had some snacks during the intermission and went back to our seats before the bell rang. I was feeling gloomy that day and wished we hadn’t gone to the show but didn’t want to spoil the mood for the others.

Just before 9pm a red Volkswagen Caravella microbus pulled up on the parking plaza in front of the theatre. There were many parked cars otherwise the plaza was empty. About a dozen men jumped out and headed towards the main entrance of the theatre.
At the same time a Jeep Dodge and a Ford Transit stopped on the street leading up to the parking plaza. More men got out, moving fast. They also headed towards the house of culture.

In the meantime, during the intermission, behind the firmly shut doors of the toilet cubicles, young Chechen women were pulling black dresses over their jeans and colourful jumpers. They sat through the first half of the show as audience members.


Svetlana Gubareva:
We were back in our seats and the second half of the show started. The lights went down and I switched off my phone again. One of the first numbers of the second act was the dance of the pilots. It was a rather lively and uplifting tune.

Two dozen men in camouflage, with AKs in their hands and in facemasks marched into the empty theatre foyer. Seeing this harrowing sight the security guard escaped on foot.

8.55 pm
Marina Krylova, Floor manager:
As the floor manager of the musical, during the intermission I always do some work in my office. Almost right after the bell rang and the second half started, I heard an unusual amount of noise in the foyer. When I come out of my office I froze. Scores of men in face masks and camouflage, heavily armed were heading towards the auditorium.

Terrorists were moving in a quick, controlled manner. One group took the stairs to the second floor, while another proceeded towards the auditorium doors on the first floor.

Svetlana Gubareva:
I happened to turn my head and saw men in fatigues and with machine guns followed by women dressed all in black coming down the left aisle. Women had hand grenades and pistols. I only knew what a hand grenade looked like from war movies. Then I looked to my right and saw the same sight. As they moved down the aisle, women stopped at regular intervals. I counted nine on each side.

When terrorists appeared in the auditorium the orchestra was still playing. They couldn’t see anything down from the orchestra pit.
As the terrorists marched down the aisles one of them appeared on stage from the left wing. He held his machinegun high up in the air. When no reaction came from the stunned actors he yelled ‘Davai, Davai! ’ and fired a few shots into the ceiling, forcing bits of plaster fall onto the stage.