Visitors who want to learn more about the evolution of life in the ocean are invited to delve into Earth’s past through an unconventional format. An immersive performance, titled “The Ocean's Voice – A History of Life,” unfolds billions of years of evolution, transforming the audience from mere witnesses to the emergence of life on our planet into direct participants in the narrative.
For one hour, science meets art, and data merges with personal sensation. There is no clear division between stage and auditorium, or between guide and visitor: participants do not just learn new things but find themselves at the epicenter of events, genuinely experiencing historical episodes of the distant past and reflecting on them.
“The idea of introducing this format of visitor engagement at the Primorsky Aquarium belongs to the director, Olga Shevchenko,” said Alena Gapeka, Head of the Tour Department. “It was decided to present the material on the Evolution of Life in the Ocean exhibit, which is challenging even for scientists, let alone our tour guides, as an immersive performance. This format is not confined to the standard framework of a tour: we involve the participants in what is happening as fully as possible and help them genuinely understand this complex subject.”
The project was developed in partnership with the Art-Artel creative group, which accepted Primorsky Aquarium’s proposal to produce an unconventional performance within the exhibit. It took specialists more than six months to integrate two distinct approaches — the scientific and the artistic — into a coherent whole. Primorsky Aquarium staff shaped the concept and thematic structure of the performance, oversaw its scientific content and the accuracy of the information presented, and ensured that the production reflected contemporary understanding of the evolution of life. Translating bare scientific facts into a language emotionally accessible to the audience was undertaken by Art-Artel specialists: the ocean “speaks” through the voice of a professional actor, while aquarium staff whose intonations and vocal timbre perfectly suited particular scenes took on the voicing of certain historical episodes. The balance between scientific rigor and creative interpretation proved essential to achieving the desired result.
The new project is a creative approach to scientific and educational work, a synthesis of philosophy and marine biology, an artistic exploration of ecology and evolution. The performance immerses the participants in the depths of the ocean and the subconscious simultaneously, while role-playing and making tough choices in a group setting help them to perceive the unity of all living things on the Earth. Immersive productions addressing this subject matter are uncommon internationally.
“When we began turning the model of the Earth in our hands,” recalled Kristina Ivanova, coordinator of the Moskvarium education center, fresh off her participation in the immersive performance, “it immediately became clear that the planet can be kept in its place only through coordinated joint efforts.”
The world ocean is ready to share its secrets at the immersive performance “The Ocean's Voice – A History of Life.” To book the next session, call +7 984 197-45-58 (Mon–Fri, 9:00–16:00). Tickets are purchased at the box office by advance reservation. The cost is 600 roubles (an aquarium admission ticket is also required).
PLEASE NOTE that “The Ocean's Voice” immersive performance is offered only in Russian.
