Chekhov and a Russia in Turmoil

Rhosygilwen has reminded us that its forthcoming staging of The Seagull on 3 October comes at a crucial point in Russian history:

“Putin’s crackdown on all dissent is a timely reminder that, from Pushkin to Pasternak, the great Russian writers have always served as the conscience of the nation, despite suffering persecution and imprisonment.

“Set in Ukraine, Anton Chekhov’s celebrated play is one of unfulfilled dreams that contains superb moments of comedy which do not detract from the despair within the text.

“Chekhov began writing The Seagull in 1895 when Russia was in social turmoil. Chekhov was himself under the suspicion of the Tsarist authorities for his liberal views.  Some dialogue in The Seagull was actually censored and only rediscovered and restored to the text after the fall of the Soviet Union.”

Local pianist Henry Ward will perform brief interludes of Russian romantic piano music to set the atmosphere for the play.

Menter Rhosygilwen