Moscow's Ocean Park to host underwater theatre troupe

Moscow, Oct 27 (UNI) A unique underwater theatre troupe will perform shows in central Moscow as part of the Ocean Park.

The underwater theatre has been giving performances in a swimming pool at Moscow's Olympiysky sports complex since 2001, but until recently access to the closed-door events was by special invitation only.

The Ocean Park is planned to open in 2012, a local administration official told RIA Novosti news agency today.

The performances, based on the movie ''Once Upon a Time in America'' and the musical ''The Phantom of the Opera,'' are given at a depth of 6 metres. They last for about three minutes as actors hold their breath during the shows.

Located close to the city centre, the Ocean Park, the largest and deepest in Europe, will be over 12 metres (40 feet) deep.

It will contain some 6,000 creatures from seas around the world, including 30 shark species, housed in more than 10 million litres (2.2 million gallons) of water.

The Ocean Park is to be part of an entertainment centre, including a shopping mall, a cinema, a bowling centre and a hotel. More than 4 million people are expected to visit the leisure complex in its first year.

UNI XC ARB HT1909