The Dream of a Ridiculous Man

Mad - Foolish - Ridiculous - I’ve been called many things.

On an uneventful Wednesday in a drab Borough of East London, an ordinary man has a startling revelation: life is an unhappy accident in a meaningless universe.

He gets himself a gun.

But before he can use it, he dreams of an innocent, alternative earth, where people live in harmony with nature and each other. Elated, he sets out to tell the world about his dream and share his new vision of a happy planet.

Dostoevsky’s tragic-comic adventure The Dream of a Ridiculous Man is transported to 21st-century London in a one-person tale of wonder with an urgent warning for our world, adapted by Laurence Boswell. A funny and serious story of hope, that with love and trust we can build a better world. Maybe.

This edition was published to coincide with the world premiere at London’s Marylebone Theatre in March 2024.

Fyodor Dostoyevsky (1821-81) was a Russian writer of novels, short stories and essays. His most famous work includes Crime and Punishment, The Idiot and The Brothers Karamazov. He is considered to be one of Europe’s major novelists.

Laurence Boswell is one of the UK’s most prolific and critically acclaimed theatre directors, with an illustrious career littered with awards on both sides of the Atlantic, including multiple Olivier Award wins and a Tony Award nomination. Laurence’s work has ranged from commercially star-studded performances to regional lesser known titles which he has been able to elevate to equal status.