Intelligence Squared:
Life and Death in the KGB, with The Rest is Classified’s Gordon Corera
28th May 2026 · 7:30pm - 9:00pm
Doors open: 6:30pm
In person

As the main intelligence and security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 to 1991, the KGB instilled fear across Russia and sought to sow discord abroad.
This network of government spies was notorious for the often brutal methods it used to keep enemies, loyalists and common people under the thumb of the state. And far from fading as the USSR old guard fell from power, the operatives, methods and networks of the KGB remain at the heart of the Russian state today. Putin himself was a KGB officer for 16 years, including six years as a foreign intelligence officer stationed in Dresden, East Germany.
The Rest is Classified’s Gordon Corera joins us to unveil the inner workings of the KGB and the hidden power struggles that shaped modern Russia. Corera will explore the real-life stories of those on the inside; from the spies who enforced its rule, to those brave enough to resist it.
Join Intelligence Squared live at Conway Hall to hear how the influence and evolution of the KGB continues to shape Russia, and have your questions answered in the audience Q&A.
Age Recommendation:
16+
Price:
*A £2 venue levy is applied to each ticket purchased. This levy helps to support us in covering the costs of keeping our grade II listed building running and our doors open.*
Standard £34.99 • Premium £49.99 • Concessions £19.99 (+ £2 venue levy)
Access Information
This event is in the Main Hall, which is located on the ground floor. The balcony is accessible only by stairs.
All the ground-floor rooms are accessible by wheelchair. Main Hall (street access, step-free), Brockway Room (street access, step-free), Bertrand Russell Room (street access, shallow ramp), Cafe (street access, step-free). There is also an accessible toilet on the ground floor opposite the Brockway Room.
Further Info
If you have any accessibility enquiries, please contact us at info@conwayhall.org.uk / 07344 482 284.