A Russian novel with a surprising lightness of touch and humour, Oblomov by Ivan Goncharov stands out from the works of his contemporaries. His protagonist Ilya Ilyich Oblomov has, in fact, much in common with a growing number of today’s young folk. Oblomov, charming, intelligent and idealistic, lives in a city flat far from his country estate. So alienated he has become, that he passes his time dreaming on a couch in his colourful dressing gown. The world’s problems are too hard to face - the individual has so little power. Why battle on?

Oblomov is roused from his apathy by falling in love with a beautiful young girl. But this means commitment. He even makes the shocking suggestion that she might defy the world and live with him! But this is firmly rejected. Sexual attraction is a potent enough force to drive him to make the supreme effort to re-join the society he has rejected. But he has sunk too deeply into apathy – the world is against him and he relapses. Wars, collapsing political systems, revolt against society’s inequalities – all these Russia’s Oblomov had to deal with. Opting out could be easier. Sex without commitment could be the answer. Today’s Oblomovs have much the same problems to face.

I wrote this adaptation of a section of the long text, many years ago when staying with relatives in Oxford. I took a book at random from a shelf and with time on my hands, read, fascinated. My own life had so many problems at that time I found Oblomov great reading. I wrote the adaptation quickly without any real intention of getting it performed. Now, in 2006, it seems the right time. - Julia Britton