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Judith Kampfner

Drama on 4: Circus Train

Circus Train

21/07/2010

BBC Radio 4 - Drama on 4, Circus Train

Margarita Sharapova's tale of travelling across Russia as a circus performer.

Adaptation by Louis Nowra of a story by Margarita Sharapova. Abandoned by their train, two circus performers and a giant dog meet a succession of eccentric travellers.

Margarita Sharapova's tale, based on working in a Russian circus, is adapted by Louis Nowra. 

While their train is waiting at a remote rural station, animal trainer Orest and his assistant Alex take the dog out to relieve herself and their long circus train leaves without them. With no papers or money and not knowing where they are, they embark on a madcap journey, hopping goods trains and hiding away in carriages. Some are full of contraband, others have stowaways and one clattering goods train is carrying mysterious chemicals. Alex and Orest encounter a host of eccentric characters who are finding new and often desperate ways to survive.

As they manically switch trains to try to rejoin the circus, they explore the hinterland of Russia. Life here has changed since communism and yet in many ways is also much the same. A farm is still very much a co-operative even though the spokeswoman talks about the new economy and there is a picture of President Obama on the wall. The drab and ugly towns Orest and Alex pass through rejoice in fictive names like Yellow Rat Town - this is a heightened picaresque tale where imagination vies with grim reality. 

Drunken soldiers, village policemen and a succession of chicken farmers harass and pursue the circus couple, convinced they are criminals on the run.

Recorded by a Russian-speaking repertory cast.

Orest Anderlect ... Yasen Peyankov
Alex/Alyona ... Anne Bobby
Nastya ... Angelique Doudnikova
Berg ... Michael Levi Harris
Gorlogryzov ... Stass Klassen
Bruskov ... Moti Margolin
Hayk ... Peter Von Berg
Train Dispatcher ... Tatyana Zbirovskaya

All other parts were played by members of the cast.

Music composed by Gene Pritsker.
Sound design by Peregrine Andrews.

Producer: Judith Kampfner
A Waters Company production for BBC Radio 4.

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