One Hour Eighteen Minutes

by Elena Gremina, Translated by Noah Birksted-Breen

A few years ago, a team of Russian lawyers discovered evidence of corruption by the Russian government - proving the theft of £145m of public money. Understanding the risk to their lives, the lawyers took asylum abroad. Except for one of them. 37-year old Sergei Magnitsky stayed in Moscow to testify against the Russian government. But before he could do so, Magnitsky was arrested and held without charge. A year later, he was dead. Inspired by previously unreleased evidence of Magnitsky’s treatment during his year in detention (obtained from independent journalists in Russia), playwright Elena Gremina has woven together a dramatic tale which gives a fascinating insight into the dark heart of modern day Russia.