Annotation: What do Russia and Scotland have in common? One of Glasgow's hidden wonders is the unique Sharmanka Kinetic Theatre that was created by Eduard Bersudsky in Leningrad in 1989. Settling in Glasgow in 1996, the theatre’s kinetic sculptures perform a mechanical ballet comprised of hundreds of wooden characters, and these ancient machines and dancing shadows have captivated audiences across Europe, having gained a reputation for providing a magical, one-of-a-kind aesthetic experience. In his book, Aleksandr Laskin unfolds the story of this magnificent project, bringing together non-conformist Leningrad of the 1970s and today’s modern Edinburgh. While the Scottish sculptor Tim Stead, the Swiss sculptor Jean Tinguely, Russian sculptors Igor Vladimirov and Sergei Yursky, and many other bright creative individuals are often called “white crows” in Russia, they are known as “black sheep” in Scotland.