The Cherry Orchard

Harold Pinter Theatre

Yes, Anton Chekhov's plays are classics, BUT this production is incredible! Every element makes this play from 1904 STILL strong and relevant in 2026. What a show.

Now, I want to put it out there: Just because I am a girl who reviews theatre and has seen a lot of shows, it does NOT mean that I think I am a theatre expert. When I read this show many years ago, it didn't make sense or resonate with me at all. This production is so easy to follow, enjoyable and emotive. The reason for this is that they have played with the delivery of the lines and visuals to make it clear and timeless. The story is about wealthy Lyubov Ranevskaya, the main character played by Kristin Scott Thomas, taking a trip to her family home with her family and taking a trip down memory lane, or so it appears. She is reunited with faces from her past, but the tables have been turned because this is set in pre-revolution Russia; times were changing, and this play is a looking glass into the uncertainty and growing unrest. The aristocrats were losing their high place in society, and tensions were rising. When you look into it and take in the background of this play, you'll realise how incredible it is, especially the revolutionary character Pyotr. It's a show you really need to sink your teeth into; it's a relic, and the more you look into it, the more your mind is BLOWN. The director, Ian Rickson and Conor McPherson, who has newly adapted this play, have both knocked this show right out of the park. What quality!

The Aristocrat Lyubov Ranevskaya, is played by Kristen Scott Thomas and what a glorious casting it is. She has this authority as soon as she takes the stage; she holds herself with regal confidence and is so well respected. She has this power to move and shake the audience. The breaking of her character and how she gradually lets the cracks show in her strong character is bewitching. If you listen carefully, you can probably hear the cracks forming in her character's wall that she has built to hide the truth. It's magnificent. An ex-worker of the Cherry Orchard estate is Lopkhin, played by Stephen Mangan, and he plays his character with clear desperation to get Ranevskaya's respect. His personality is one of the handful of characters that bring the element of comedy to Chekhov's play. This is a statement about how he is viewed by the family due to his background, and he's one to watch closely because the power battle between each character is clever, not only because of the history of the play, but also because of the characters themselves. Colour me impressed; the more I think about it, the more excited I get. Anya, played by Anastasia Martin, and Trofimov (Pyotr) played by Jack Riddiford, are a duo with quite some heat. Anya is the daughter of an aristocrat, and Pyotr is a revolutionary/student. The two are drawn to each other and show their unplanned/addictive love for each other. Their characters show how society was changing and getting ready for something very new, whilst feeling this fear/apprehension about what it could mean. We could truly sit here for HOURS talking about what each character symbolises... Now I see why the play is studied.

What draws the audience to the set, designed by Chloe Lamford and the lighting by Bruno Poet, is the homeliness of it; there is that sense of nostalgia and comfort. Just looking at the stage gives you a wave of relaxation. It's quite something. The light coming from the windows shows its beauty, and the detail in what is shown when they go through the doors shows how big the home actually is. This, mixed with the detail of what is presented in the room- old toys, markings on the walls from the children growing up, and designs- shows how rooted the family were in the estate. These elements introduce the tragedy of Chekhov's play and make the audience feel this emotion. Again, so much to think about on the stage.

All in all, it's a fantastic show, and there is a reason it's been adapted for years and years. It's a time capsule and helps audiences understand history. This production of the play is just astounding and deeply emotive; it's something everyone can find something to relate to. Also, so relevant right now, because we live in a time when we can all feel change growing and that feeling of insecurity. It's somewhat comforting to watch, because change means adapting and working through it. Whilst it is sombre, it's also comforting to know that throughout history, generations of humans have worked through so many huge changes and come out the other side. It gets your brain working, it makes you feel, and it is an escape from the world outside the theatre. You must go watch this show; it's quite something!