Philistines

Gorky's first stage play, Meschanye, was originally presented at the Moscow Art Theatre in 1902. The story centres around a prosperous house painter and his two sons, and because of its 'progressive' tone the play was cut by the official censors and granted a licence for 'members only' performances. Gorky draws a gallery of rich characters who brilliantly expose the political and personal turmoil of pre-revolutionary Russia

The play has been performed in several versions in America (as Scenes in the House of Bessemenov and Smug Citizens) but this new adaptation, Philistines, by Dusty Hughes, commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, was the first major professional production to be staged in Britain. It was first performed at The Other Place, Stratford-upon-Avon

"Dusty Hughes' brilliant revision of Gorky's opus one, Philistines, is a major achievement, subtly and cleverly utilizing the hindsight of history to resuscitate a neglected masterpiece that now deservedly takes its place amongst the classics of early twentieth century Russian drama" ~ Lyn Gardner, City Limits

"Never having previously received a major professional production in this country, Gorky's first play Philistines has all the richness and amplitude of a Victorian novel" ~ Francis King, Sunday Telegraph

"...it is in the painstaking characterisation and in Dusty Hughes' accessible, humourous and lucid translation that this production comes into its own. It is also a poignantly funny play..." ~ Suzie Mackenzie, Time Out

"...an absorbing and, in all senses, tremendous theatrical experience ... aided by Dusty Hughes's marvellously natural dialogue..." ~ Martin Hoyle, Financial Times