“All these little houses hiding themselves in the trees likes bird’s nests…it’s sickeningly peaceful, repulsively ‘nice’…makes one feel like tearing the whole idyllic scene to pieces.”

A small provincial town is shaken from its lethargy by the imminent arrival of a major railway line.

Two railway engineers sweep into the lives of the locals with the force of a gale, challenging stale romances, sour marriages, and the power of local government.

Does the railway represent progress or a grave danger to the local community?

This bold new version of Gorky’s 1906 play is created by Filter, renowned for their original devised work and reimagining of classic texts, together with the Company of Guildhall School.

“Fresh and vivid. A sharp and often comic portrait of people who desperately pursue love, money, and power.” – Variety on Barbarians

“Filter are one of Britain’s best and boldest devising companies” –  Metro

The opening performance of this production is dedicated to the memory of Diana Devlin (1941–2020), former Head of Drama Studies at Guildhall School.

By Maxim Gorky

Translated by Kitty Hunter-Blair and Jeremy Brooks

Co-directed by Oliver Dimsdale and Victoria Moseley for Filter Theatre, devised with the Company

Oliver Dimsdale co-director
Victoria Moseley co-director
Amy Jane Cook designer
Ieva Vaiti composer and sound design
Lucía Sánchez Roldán lighting designer
Thomas Dixon sound designer