The news that a government inspector is due to arrive at a small town in Little Russia (now Ukraine), sends its councillors into a panicked frenzy. A simple case of mistaken identity exposes the hypocrisy and corruption at the heart of the town in this biting moral satire. Hilarity ensues as the bootlicking mayor of the town tries to ingratiate himself with the “important dignitary” from the Capital. Meanwhile, the imposter decides to milk the situation as much as he can! All the officials of the town fall over themselves to avoid being the scapegoats of their unscrupulous leader. The result is uproarious mayhem!
David Harrower's adaptation offers an hilarious reminder of the terrifying timelessness of bureaucracy and exploitation.
This modern version of Nikolai Gogol's Government Inspector premiered at the Warwick Arts Centre in May 2011 and transferred to Young Vic, London in June of the same year.
Directed by Alan Perks
