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Northern Broadsides in partnership with Harrogate Theatres to tour A GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR from September

Northern Broadsides in partnership with Harrogate Theatres present
A GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR


Adapted by Deborah McAndrew from the original play by Nikolai Gogol 
Director and Composer: Conrad Nelson 
Designer: Dawn Allsopp
Lighting: Tim Skelly 
Assistant Director: Andy Cryer

‘Where there’s muck there’s brass’

After the critical success of Accidental Death of an Anarchist, Northern Broadsides’ resident director Conrad Nelson and playwright Deborah McAndrew once again team up to bring their unique brand of Northern inventiveness and humour to the stage with A Government Inspector, a Yorkshire take on Gogol’s fantastical satire The Government Inspector.

Created in partnership with Harrogate Theatres, the production premieres at Harrogate Theatre from 7 – 22 September before embarking on a national tour until December 1st.

In a small Pennine town a mysterious stranger is mistaken for a government inspector.  Fearing discovery of their corrupt goings-on, the town’s unscrupulous councillors attempt to ingratiate themselves.  Bribes, backhanders and brown envelopes abound and the young chap, who has an eye for a quick buck, takes full advantage with hilarious results.

No one is better positioned to breathe life and vigour into this barmy story than Northern Broadsides, one of the country’s finest and best-loved touring theatre companies. If you like your references topical, your heart warmed and your brass bands live, look no further than A Government Inspector. Absurdly funny, clever and strangely familiar, you’ll never trust your local authority again … if you ever did that is!

Director and composer Conrad Nelson said about the play “Deborah McAndrew’s contemporary English vernacular version of Gogol’s classic Russian play is set in a small northern town, geographically and culturally remote from the centre of government.

“This adaptation is created to incorporate a live brass band score, evoking traditional values of honest labour and community. The warmhearted music is a moral counterpoint to the shady racketeering of the town’s inhabitants - in particular the Leader of the Council, Tony Belcher.

“Gogol was aiming high when he wrote The Government Inspector. With his wonderful, grotesque characters and surreal comedy he wanted to seek out darker truths about the human spirit. McAndrew’s A Government Inspector goes beyond literal translation, but is absolutely faithful to Gogol’s stated intention to peel away the surface layers of ordinary people and expose the corruption beneath.

“Bringing Gogol’s timeless work to the stage, this new exuberant production will integrate live brass band music with outrageous characters and rollicking comedy to create a fantastical fable for our time.”

A Government Inspector’s excellent cast includes Jill Cardo, Howard Chadwick, Andy Creswell, Richard Colvin, Andy Cryer, Clara Darcy, Susie Emmet, Anthony Hunt, Harry Myers, Andrew Price, Kraig Thornber and Jon Trenchard. The production is designed by Dawn Allsopp (Private Lives, Nottingham Playhouse), with lighting by Tim Skelly (We are Three Sisters, Northern Broadsides and Big Society, Red Ladder Theatre) and music composed by Conrad Nelson.

Northern Broadsides is a unique theatre company with a true northern voice. Its work is characterised by a high degree of theatrical inventiveness and robust performances from a large ensemble cast of multi-talented and charismatic northern actors who all perform in their natural voices. For the past 20 years, it has delighted audiences here and abroad with a growing classic repertoire that has won the company many awards and a loyal following worldwide.

A Government Inspector will open at the Harrogate Theatre on 7 September and then tour to Winchester, Cheltenham, Lancaster, Scarborough, Huddersfield, Newcastle-under-Lyme,
Liverpool, Halifax and York.



Listings Information

UK Tour:  Opening at Harrogate Theatre from 7-22 Sept and then touring until 1 Dec 2012

7-22 Sept at 7.30pm (Mat: 15 & 22 Sept at 2.30pm) Harrogate Theatre
Box Office 01423 502 116 or www.harrogatetheatre.co.uk

25-29 Sept at 8pm (Mat: 27 Sep at 1.30pm & 29 Sep at 2.30pm): Theatre Royal Winchester
Box Office 01962 840440 or www.theatre-royal-winchester.co.uk

2-6 Oct: at 7.45pm (Mat: 4 Oct & 6 Oct at 2pm): Everyman Theatre, Cheltenham
Box Office 01242 572573 or www.everymantheatre.org.uk

9-13 Oct at 7.30pm (Mat: 10 Oct at 1pm & 13 Oct at 2pm) Dukes Theatre, Lancaster
Box Office 01524 598500 or www.dukes-lancaster.org

16-20 Oct at 7.30pm (Mat: 18 Oct at 1.30pm & 20 Oct at 2.30pm): Stephen Joseph Theatre, Scarborough
Box Office 01723 370541 or www.sjt.uk.com

24-27 Oct at 7.30pm (Mat: 27 Oct at 2.15pm): Lawrence Batley Theatre, Huddersfield
Box office 01484 430528 or www.thelbt.org

6-10 November at 7.30pm (Mat: 10 Oct at 2.15pm): New Vic Theatre, Newcastle-Under-Lyme
Box Office 01782 717962 or www.newvictheatre.org.uk

13-17 Nov at 7.30pm (Mat: 15 Nov at 1.30pm & 17 Nov at 2pm): Liverpool Playhouse
Box Office 0151 7094776 or www.everymanplayhouse.co.uk

20-24 Nov at 7.30pm (Mat: 23 Nov at 2.30pm): Viaduct Theatre, Halifax
Box Office 01422 255 266 or www.deanclough.com

Tue 27 – Sat 1 Dec at 7.30pm (Mat 29 at 2pm &1 Dec at 2.30pm): York Theatre Royal
Box Office 01904 623568 or www.yorktheatreroyal.co.uk

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