Edinburgh’s community theatre company EGTG is preparing to stage the theatrical premiere of Dead Souls at the Pianodrome Bruntsfield. The production, a stage adaptation of Nikolai Gogol’s satirical novel penned by playwright Dan Rebellato, runs for a limited period from Tuesday 3 to Friday 6 November 2026. This performance brings a sharp critique of 19th-century bureaucracy and spiritually bankrupt social structures to a unique acoustic venue built entirely from upcycled pianos.
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The plot follows Pavel Ivanovich Chichikov as he tries to buy the deeds of deceased serfs from wealthy landowners to artificially inflate his status. Originally written for a 2006 BBC Radio 4 Classic Serial starring Mark Heap and Michael Palin, Rebellato’s adaptation restructures surviving notes from Gogol’s incomplete second book into a finished drama. Director Hannah Bradley Croall leads a large ensemble cast, including Adrian Moore as Chichikov and Esther Gilvray as the Narrator.
Theatrical premiere of BBC Radio drama
The Pianodrome Bruntsfield, located within St Oswald’s Community Centre, offers a highly atmospheric setting for this surreal narrative. Constructed as a wooden amphitheatre from reclaimed pianos, the venue sits under the whispering stone pillars and stained glass of the former church. The setting is specifically chosen to complement the strange, satirical, and dreamlike world of Gogol’s writing. Performances begin at 7pm each night. Tickets cost Β£15.90, including fees, and can be purchased in advance.
Bruntsfield is a residential neighbourhood located just south of Edinburgh city centre, known for its independent shops, cafes, and proximity to the Meadows. If you are travelling from outside the city, rail connections to Haymarket or Edinburgh Waverley are straightforward to arrange via Trainline. From either station, Lothian Buses provide regular transport up the hill, while booking a local car hire through Economybookings offers direct, private access to St Oswald’s Centre.
The area is packed with excellent local hospitality for a pre-theatre meal, with bistros and pubs directly overlooking Bruntsfield Links. If you are short on time before the 7pm curtain, Deliveroo UK operates extensively across the neighbourhood for quick food delivery to your location. Visitors planning to stay overnight will find numerous independent guesthouses nearby, alongside major hotel options on Booking.com for a comfortable city break.
The theatrical premiere of Dead Souls by Dan Rebellato offers a rare chance to see a completed adaptation of Gogol’s unfinished satirical masterpiece. The strict four-night run at the Pianodrome Bruntsfield makes this a highly specific and atmospheric calendar entry for Edinburgh theatregoers this November.
Links
- Pianodrome: Tickets
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