Hope, despair and vodka in Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters
Atonement actress Romola Garai stars in Filter and Lyric Hamersmith’s
groundbreaking staging of Chekhov masterpiece Three Sisters
Tue 2 to Sat 6 March
Press Night Tue 2 March, 8pm
Rising Hollywood actress Romola Garai (Briony Tallis in Atonement) heads-up a talented cast as Lyric Hammersmith and exhilarating theatre company Filter bring their fresh take on Anton Chekhov’s Three Sisters to The Lowry.
Other cast members include Poppy Miller, who played Isabella Knightly to Romala’s titular heroine Emma in the BBC’s recent adaptation of the Jane Austin classic and Mark Theodore, who appeared at The Lowry recently in the RSC's explosive drama Days Of Significance.
Following their hit show Twelfth Night, Filter and the Lyric Hammersmith’s Artistic Director Sean Holmes delve beneath the surface of Chekhov’s text to explore one family’s search for ever elusive happiness. Fusing imaginative staging, evocative physicality and Filter’s trademark use of sound, this brand new production distils the essence of Chekhov’s classic.
Frustrated by their small-town existence, the Prozorov family long to return to Moscow. But as relationships, duty and misguided optimism take hold they soon find their dreams drifting further away from them.
The combination of Filter’s exuberance and Holmes’ precision have proved a winning formula in the past with both Twelfth Night, and their ground-breaking version Brecht’s The Caucasian Chalk Circle receiving great critical acclaim.
Recent praise for Lyric Hammersmith and Filter’s Three Sisters
‘Immensely refreshing. Terrific performances.’ **** Independent
‘A lively, modern, bold staging of Chekhov.’ * * * * Telegraph
‘Stripped down, Spartan and sonically strange.’ Guardian
'As hard-hitting and raw as it always has been. Filter’s decision to not change a single word reflects the sheer perfection of this play.' London Theatre Guide
‘(John Lightbody is) more the self-infatuated showman than any Vershinin I can remember. It’s an arresting performance.’ The Times
Sean Holmes became Artistic Director of the Lyric Hammersmith in January 2009 and this production is an integral part of his first season which has also seen him reviving Trevor Griffiths’ Comedians. Other recent work as a director includes: Loot (Tricycle); Treasure Island (West End); Pornography (Traverse/Birmingham Repertory); The English Game (Headlong); The Man Who Had All The Luck (Donmar Warehouse) and The Entertainer (Old Vic).
He says of the pairing;
“This is my third collaboration with Filter and I am really excited about the prospect of tackling another classic text with them.”
Filter were formed in 2001 by actors Ferdy Roberts, Oliver Dimsdale, and musician Tim Phillips. Filter’s shows create an on-stage fusion of live and recorded music – their trademark of live integrated sound. In addition to their collaborations with Sean Holmes credits include: Water (Lyric Hammersmith); The Birthday Party and Dumb Waiter (Bristol Royal Court).
Directed By Sean Holmes & Filter
Design by Jon Bausor
Lighting By Paul Constable
Music by Chris Branch
Sound by Nick Manning
The cast includes rising star Romola Garai as Masha (Glorious 39; Emma in BBC’s Emma; King Lear/The Seagull, RSC and Briony Tallis in Atonement); Poppy Miller as Olga (Isabella Knightley in BBC’s Emma and Filter’s Twelfth Night); Clare Dunne as Irina (Nabokov’s Crunch); Gemma Saunders as Natasha (Filter’s Twelfth Night and ITV’s Law and Order); Paul Brennen as Kulygin (BBC’s The Tudors and Filter’s Twelfth Night); Jonathan Broadbent as Tuzenbach (Grand Guignol, Theatre Royal Plymouth and Filter’s Twelfth Night); Jim Bywater as Ferapont (Uncle Vanya, Young Vic); Nigel Cooke as Chebutykin (Out of Joint’s Dreams of Violence); David Judge as Rodé (Irish Pele, Manchester Contact Theatre); John Lightbody as Vershinin (Headlong’s The English Game); Ferdy Roberts as Andrei (Filter’s Twelfth Night and Caucasian Chalk Circle, National Theatre); Mark Theodore as Solyony (Days Of Significance, RSC); Sandra Voe as Anfisa (The Man Who Had All The Luck, Donmar Warehouse) and Paul Woodson as Fedotik (BBC’s The Day of the Triffids).
The Lowry Centre Trust is a not-for-profit charitable organisation and registered charity (no. 1053962). All income supports our world-class Theatres and Galleries programme, the care and display of the LS Lowry Collection and our life-changing Community and Education work. Julia Fawcett, Chief Executive of the visual and performing arts venue, was awarded an OBE for services to the Arts in the Queen’s 2010 New Year Honours list.
Posted on Wednesday, 03 February 2010 under Press Theatre Press