Sedos Presents GOVERNMENT INSPECTOR as Part of Summer Festival, Now thru 7/18

In a snappy one-hour edit of Government Inspector, Sedos brings a stylistic 70s twist to Gogol's biting satire about greed, corruption and the pursuit of status.

First published in 1836, the play still holds up a very tarnished mirror to our own "greed is good culture. Director Zoë Thomas-Webb explains her vision: "Working with the wonderfully dark and hilarious adaption by David Harrower, I've set the production in the fashion and attitude of the 1970s. Inspiration comes from politicians of the era, whose sweaty ambition embodies the creepy, pathetic civil servants of Gogol's work."

The show features delightfully awful period costumes by designer Edith Webb and a simple yet evocative set by Crispin Thomas.

This is the London preview of a run at ZOO venues at the Edinburgh Fringe (17-25 August).

Director Zoë Thomas-Webb directed Sedos' 2012 five-star production of As You Like It, performed at ZOO Venues with London previews at theWinterflood Theatre. She also directed Sedos' 2011 aclaimed production of The Last Days of Judas Iscariot. A playwright, her one-act play, Made Up, received excellent reviews for LOST Theatre Company's One Act Festival. She has worked with directors such as Melly Still, Katie Mitchell and Richard Jones in a costumier role, as well as at The Young Vic.

The production design by Edith Webb is inspired by a culture class of 1970s fashion and traditional garb. Edith makes costumes for opera, theatre, musicals and films. Her recent work includes Les Troyens (Royal Opera House), Shrek the Musical (Theatre Royal Drury Lane) and Frankenstein (National Theatre). She has previously collaborated with Zoë on As You Like It, The Last Days of Judas Iscariot and Much Ado About Nothing (So It Goes Theatre Company).

Tickets: sedos.co.uk; twitter: @sedos; facebook: facebook.com/sedostheatre

"Don't blame the mirror if your face is lopsided."

Government Inspector, by Nicolai Gogol, in a version by David Harrower: TODAY, 15-18 July.

All performances at the Bridewell Theatre, Bride Lane, London EC4Y 8EQ.

Tuesday to Friday evenings at 7.30pm.