In 2013, Mayakovsky’s The Bedbug was performed by students in the department for a second time. The play was selected by director Jesse Gardiner because of his research interests in Russian theatre during the thaw. He had been researching one particular 1950s staging of Klop at Moscow’s Satire Theatre, which represented a watershed moment in Soviet theatre because it was the first restaging of the play since Mayakovsky’s death. It was also felt that Klop would be a good production to create with the undergraduate students, as the text was included on the first year syllabus.
As Laura Todd describes, the mixture of Russian-speaking abilities within the group formed a productive working environment:
“Perhaps one of our greatest challenges with each play was catering to the different abilities of our casts, who ranged from complete beginners to native speakers - all of whom required different levels of coaching. We had some students who were seasoned actors and others who were trying to overcome their shyness speaking publicly. However, these combinations worked very well together, creating a great environment and our casts became close over the course of the productions. One of our other aims was to bring together postgraduates and undergraduates, in an informal setting. This worked very well and we found that it brought the department closer together.”
Top left: Market traders Maria Medvedchikova and Kathleen Mosselmans sell their wares to Rosaliya Pavlovna (Claire Thompson), Prisypkin (Chris Brown) and Bayan (Benjamin Taylor).
Bottom left: The wedding scene descends into drunkenness. From left to right: Kate Martin (guest); Anca Siia (Elzevira Renaissance); Anniina Hyppola (Party Representative); Chris Brown (Prisypkin); Nick Harper and Kathleen Mosslemans (guests).
Top right: The Zoo Director (Benjamin Taylor) shows the bed bug to the assembled crowd (Kathleen Mosselmans, Olivia Hellewell, Leana Loide, Claire Thompson and Maria Medvedchikova).
Bottom right: Prisypkin (Chris Brown) is watched over in his cage by his keeper (Nick Harper), while the Zoo Director (Benjamin Taylor) warns the crowd of the dangers posed by the species Bourgeoisius vulgaris.