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Bartholomew Players present:
"The Government Inspector or
A Little Local Difficulty”

– an adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s
classic comedy by Philip Goulding

 

As part two of our 50th anniversary celebration, we are delighted to present the classic comedy The Government Inspector by Nikolai Gogol, adapted by Philip Goulding. It sports one of the biggest casts we have assembled in the last 20 years, boasts some wonderful characters and is sure to have our audiences chortling with gusto.
 

Gareth Hammond, Director, says “The play is a timeless satire of corruption in officialdom and skewers the hypocrisy, snobbery and self-importance that exist in society everywhere and explores the universal theme of human vanity. When news of the imminent arrival of a government inspector reaches town, local officials are thrown into a panic that all their little schemes and malpractices are to be exposed. They fall over themselves to curry favour with the stranger who appears in their midst, only to find that things do not turn out as they expected.
 

Nikolai Gogol was born in present-day Ukraine. Critics saw in Gogol the emergence of a Ukrainian, rather than Russian writer, whose work illustrated the differences between Russian and Ukrainian national characters. Government bureaucrats of the day considered The Government Inspector ‘not sufficiently well-intentioned’ in tone. However, the first performance in 1836 prompted a review from none other than Tsar Nicholas, who laughed heartily throughout, remarking at the end, ‘Everyone has received his due, and I most of all. There is nothing sinister in the comedy, as it is only a cheerful mockery of bad provincial officials.’ The play was a hit!
 

Philip Goulding, who has written a number of original plays as well as numerous adaptations of well-known classics, has brought the play closer to home, setting it in provincial Victorian England and ensuring the humour has complete resonance for a modern audience.
 

This promises to be a thoroughly entertaining evening of theatre!”

Venue: Eynsham Village Hall, Back Lane, Eynsham, OX29 4QW

Dates: Wednesday 26th to  Saturday 29th November 2025

Doors open: 7.00pm, Performance: 7.30pm

Price: £14.00 (no concessions)

Available: online from:
www.trybooking.com/uk/FEUN
in advance from:
Denise Santilli 07721 744020
bart.players@gmail.com
Evenlode DIY in Eynsham
or on the door

 

Website: www.bartholomewplayers.co.uk


New members interested in acting or backstage are very welcome. We are an award-winning, friendly company. Please contact us via our email address or website.

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