Three Sisters

Synopsis

A provincial Russian town, circa 1900. The Prozorov family’s once-grand house, now fading like the sisters’ dreams of Moscow.

Olga, Masha, and Irina Prozorov yearn for the vibrant life of Moscow, but remain trapped in their small town. As the years pass, their brother Andrey’s gambling and his wife Natasha’s vulgar ambitions erode the family’s fortunes. The sisters cling to visiting military officers for distraction, particularly the philosophical Vershinin, with whom Masha falls in love. Irina reluctantly agrees to marry Baron Tuzenbach, seeking purpose through work and duty. But even this small hope is crushed when he dies in a duel. As the soldiers depart, leaving the town emptier than ever, the sisters face an uncertain future with only each other for support.

Chekhov peels back the layers of provincial ennui to reveal the aching humanity beneath. Through subtle interactions and poignant monologues, he captures the sisters’ fading dreams and resilient spirits. The Royal Court’s production emphasised the play’s relevance to modern audiences, exploring themes of unfulfilled potential, class anxiety, and the search for meaning in a rapidly changing world.