The Seagull

Synopsis

Written in 1896 this is a comic play of aspiration and failure. Nina aspires to be an actress, Kostya a writer. Madame Arkadina and Trigorin are already these things. Can the young people's dreams come true or will they sour when confronted with the adult world?

Our Review:

Michael Coveney - 25 April 2013

This is an outstanding production by Blanche McIntyre for Headlong (co-produced with the Nuffield, Southampton, in association with Derby Theatre) of Chekhov's play: it is fresh, funny, absolutely original and still properly attentive to the core themes of artistic aspiration, emotional cruelty and the changing theatre.

The Seagull is always most affecting when it conveys the frustration and excitement of a new start, a new approach, and Alexander Cobb as Konstantin and Pearl Chanda as Nina, both on the threshold of their careers (Chanda is making her professional debut), are both superb.

And they are given the best possible framework by McIntyre and designer Laura Hopkins, who provides a skeletal set of a high platform in a neutral tundra that is scrawled over with drawings and phrases, lit by Guy Hoare to accentuate the idea of an outdoor performance by the l...

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