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1981

The Seagull

Written by Anton Chekhov

Play Details

Context

Artistic Director 
Max Stafford-Clark

Adapted By
Thomas Kilroy

Original Language 
Russian

Dates Performed

Wednesday 8th April 1981
Jerwood Theatre Downstairs

Play Details

Synopsis

A country estate in Russia, late 1800s

Konstantin, an aspiring writer, stages a unique play with his love, Nina, hoping to impress his renowned actress mother, Arkadina, and her partner, the esteemed writer Trigorin. What unfolds are earnest discussions on art’s evolving forms and an artist’s purpose. As ambitions and emotions intertwine, several characters grapple with unfulfilled love and dreams. Nina’s pursuit of Trigorin leads to both hope and heartbreak, influencing the poignant course of Konstantin’s journey.

Director(s)

Max Stafford-Clark

Content Warning

References to suicide

Photo credit

All images credited to John Haynes

Cast & Creative

Cast

Stuart Burge

Cast

Alan Devlin

Cast

Veronica Duffy

Cast

Anton Lesser

Cast

Maggie McCarthy

Cast

T P McKenna

Cast

Anna Massey

Cast

Alan Rickman

Cast

Tony Rohr

Cast

Harriet Walter

Designer

Gemma Jackson

Costume

Pam Tait

Sound

Mic Pool

What our readers say

 

The play spans four acts set at Sorin’s estate, with a jump of two years between some acts. It’s grounded in reality, but it also plays with abstract ideas, like Konstantin’s mini-play and the repeated symbol of the seagull.

 

What is it like reading this play now? 

It’s a play that still feels incredibly relevant as even though it’s set in the late 1800s it explores and takes apart universal ideas and questions around the human experience. It speaks to questions around intergenerational conflicts, love, family, and the reasons of how and why we make theatre feel everlasting.

 

If you like this, you might also like…?

‘Mosquito’ by Lucy Kirkwood, ‘The Effect’ by Lucy Prebble, ‘Three Sisters’ adapted by Inua Ellams, ‘Miss Julie’ by Strindberg

Want to read the script?

 

Visit the Royal Court bookshop