Welcome to theatreland

Drive down the main prospect of Minsk and you experience all the grand, intimidating swagger of high Soviet architecture. Tiny figures make their way along vast pavements, dwarfed by buildings that look as if they were made for giants. But pull away from the awesome display of the central route, and the roads gradually break up and decay. Within 10 minutes, you are driving along poorly lit dirt track, the housing a mess of crumbling brickwork and metal shacks.