The Diary of A Madman

Final week: 11-16 Sept

Time Out Review:

Proclaimed by the British Medical Journal as one of the first, and most explicit portraits of schizophrenia in literature, ‘Diary of a Madman’ isn’t just an extraordinary sketch of one man’s insanity. Written in 1834, Nikolai Gogol’s dark, comedic short is also a pithy depiction of the gnawing tedium of life six links from the bottom of the administrative food chain. And it’s made painfully familiar in Fail Better’s accomplished, one-man performance...

More at:
http://www.timeout.com/
london/theatre/events/
469373/diary_of_a_madman.html

A bold new adaptation of Gogol’s absurdist masterpiece, adapted and devised by the company. The story examines the life of Axenty Ivanovich, a civil servant whose ordered existence spirals into fantasy and despair as his obsession with the enchanting daughter of his superior grows. Meanwhile, two little dogs contemplate his fate…

Fail Better’s work is informed by the drama of Samuel Beckett, consistently examining his texts and dramaturgy as preparation for their productions from the company’s inception in 2001. Gogol’s story will be re-imagined as a Beckettian one-man show, dealing with identity, insanity and isolation.

Performed by Christopher Tester
Designed by Nomi Everall

'Pure theatrical gold.' Metro on Phaedra's Love

'A devastating, abstract piece of cruelty... relevant and powerful.' Three Weeks on Head

'Rigorously directed... it is challenging, gripping, creative and the acting is assured.' The Stage on Echo and Narcissus

'A careful, well thought-out production... gut-wrenchingly effective.' The Scotsman on Crave

www.failbetter.com
www.christophertester.com