Groaning under financial debt, coping with the stress of a dying wife, and thinking of betraying his marriage vows, office worker Ivanov is full of self-loathing. A brooding presence surrounded by an intriguing company of sharply drawn characters – among them a devoted love interest, a brutally honest family doctor and a wastrel uncle – he is losing control of his life and ill-prepared to find a way out.
Russian director Timofey Kulyabin approaches Chekhov’s play with fierce insight and relentless drive, drawing out luminous performances that set the stage alight. Complete with a frivolous, sparkler-waving, heavy-drinking party scene, the production brings fresh perspective to the text while retaining its keen observation and comedic eye for detail. It was hailed in New York as ‘a spectacle of mind and sight’ (Front Row Center).
Presented by the Barbican
Tour produced by Oksana Nemchuk in association with ArtsBridge
Theatre of Nations would like to acknowledge the generous support of Roman Abramovich
