First published in 1842, Gogol's classic tells the tale of Akaky Bashmachkin - a penniless, aging clerk in an unknown government department of St. Petersburg - who realizes his precious, shabby old coat will not last the winter. He has no option but to tighten his belt to afford a new one. But when his beautiful, immaculately tailored overcoat is finally ready, then his life seems suddenly filled with purpose - while out on the streets wretched souls are desperately yearning for the all encompassing warmth of his overcoat. Credo Theatre has developed its own extraordinary theatrical language through mime, clowning and puppetry skills. The energy and witty inventiveness of these artists distils theatre to its most potent essence. With a few seemingly insignificant props, the two actors ingeniously make a fierce magic. Raw theatre at its most powerful. Performed at over 100 international festivals and recipient of eight international awards. Idea, set design, stage version and direction are by Nina Dimitrova, Vassil Vassilev-Zuek and Svetlozar Gagov.| 21 Jun 00 to 1 Jul 00 | The Pit, Barbican Centre West End, Greater London Performance Details => Venue archive |
