Full-cast productions of five plays by the celebrated Russian author, plus a reading of one of his most famous short stories

Alexei Maximovich Peshkov, known under his pseudonym Maxim Gorky, was one of Russia's greatest Soviet writers and the founder of the ‘socialist realism’ literary movement. Nominated for the Nobel Prize five times, his best-known works include the short story ‘Twenty-Six Men and a Girl’ and his seminal play The Lower Depths. Both are included in this collection, as well as four more acclaimed dramas.

The Lower Depths – The arrival of the vagrant Luka has unexpected consequences for the down and out denizens of a Moscow dosshouse... First performed in 1902, Gorky’s pioneering play was the first to introduce Russian audiences to characters who were on the fringes of society, and was an instant success. This 1997 production, adapted by Alan Plater, stars Glyn Houston, with John Woodvine, Malcolm Storry, Laurence Allan and Joe Caffrey.

Summerfolk – Spending the summer at their forest dachas, a group of middle-class holidaymakers embark on affairs, intrigues and amateur dramatics, but cannot escape the hollowness of their lives. Written as a response to Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, Gorky’s 1904 play depicts the Russian bourgeoisie on the brink of tremendous social change. Initially performed at the National Theatre, this adaptation stars Christine Pritchard, Simon Armstrong, Kelly Hunter and Ruth Jones.

Enemies – Summer 1905, and as Russia stands on the edge of revolution, landowner and textile factory owner Zakhar Bardin and his intransigent managing director are at odds over the sacking of a foreman. The situation quickly spins out of control – with tragic consequences… Allan McClelland and Timothy Bateson star in this powerful dramatisation of Gorky’s 1906 play, which was censored by both Russia’s Tsarist regime and by Stalin.

Vassa Zhelyeznova – Iron-willed Vassa has always done whatever it takes to build up the family business. Now, as her husband lies dying, she is engaged in a life-and-death struggle over its future. This 1986 radio production stars Billie Whitelaw, who won a Sony Radio Award for Best Actress for her performance as Vassa.

The Old Man – Set in provincial Russia at the turn of the century, Maxim Gorky’s philosophical drama centres around a successful building contractor whose life is shattered by the intrusion of an old man he knew in the past. This classic radio production from 1974 stars Freddie Jones, Maxine Audley and Alan Webb.

Twenty-Six Men and a Girl – Working day and night making pretzels in an airless basement, a group of bakers have only one solace: Tanya, the young seamstress who visits every day to enjoy their wares. But then the soldier arrives, determined to seduce her… Read by Joe Melia.

First published 1899 (‘Twenty-Six Men and a Girl’), 1902 (The Lower Depths), 1902 (Summerfolk), 1906 (Enemies), 1910, revised 1935 (Vassa Zhelyeznova), 1915, revised 1922 and 1924 (The Old Man).
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