theartsdesk in Moscow: The Sovremennik Theatre Visits London

Chekhov from the horse's mouth as Russia's flagship theatre company shows how

by Tom BirchenoughSunday, 16 January 2011

Chekhov's Three Sisters: 'The kind of attention to detail that marks great productions of Chekhov is to be found in spades'

Twenty-odd years ago, on the eve of the break-up of the Soviet Union, the country’s cultural world was anticipating cardinal changes – anything from a series of closures to a radical alteration in which the way art would be produced under new economic circumstances. Nowhere more perhaps than in theatre, where the established universal nationwide system of repertory companies faced potential implosion.

The tenures of some of these artistic directors - not unlike African despots - end as often as not only with their deaths

Buy

Explore topics

Share this article

The future of Arts Journalism

You can stop theartsdesk.com closing!

We urgently need financing to survive. Our fundraising drive has thus far raised £33,000 but we need to reach £100,000 or we will be forced to close. Please contribute here: https://gofund.me/c3f6033d

And if you can forward this information to anyone who might assist, we’d be grateful.

Subscribe to theartsdesk.com

Thank you for continuing to read our work on theartsdesk.com. For unlimited access to every article in its entirety, including our archive of more than 15,000 pieces, we're asking for £5 per month or £40 per year. We feel it's a very good deal, and hope you do too.

To take a subscription now simply click here.

And if you're looking for that extra gift for a friend or family member, why not treat them to a theartsdesk.com gift subscription?

more Theatre

All's Well That Ends Well, Sam Wanamaker Playhouse review - Shakespeare at his least likeable New production lands on shaky ground in 2024

Wicked review - overly busy if beautifully sung cliffhanger Musical theatre behemoth becomes an outsized film - and this is just part one

King James, Hampstead Theatre review - UK premiere drains a three-pointer LeBron James comes and goes, and comes back again to the Cavs

A Christmas Carol, Old Vic review - tidings of discomfort and noise This venue’s annual festive classic is joyous, but its writing is frankly patronising

[title of show], Southwark Playhouse review - two guys and two girls write about writing, delightfully Revival of New York show lifts the spirits

ARK: United States V by Laurie Anderson, Aviva Studios, Manchester review - a vessel for the thoughts and imaginings of a lifetime Despite anticipating disaster, this mesmerising voyage is full of hope

Wolves on Road, Bush Theatre review - exciting dialogue, but flawed plotting New play about young black men and cryptocurrency is sadly predictable

Burnt Up Love, Finborough Theatre review - scorching new play Super writing and acting jolts us out of complacency

L’Addition, BAC review - top billing for physical comedy duo The latest in Forced Entertainment’s 40 years of experiment is a thought-tickling farce

Barcelona, Duke of York's Theatre review - Lily Collins migrates from France to Spain The 'Emily in Paris' star surrenders to cliche - or does she?

Guards at the Taj, Orange Tree Theatre review - miniature marvel with rich resonances Rajiv Joseph’s play pitting beauty against duty gets an impressive staging

The Buddha of Suburbia, Barbican Theatre review - farcical fun, but what about the issues? Hanif Kureishi classic gets a compulsively comic makeover from Emma Rice

Follow @theartsdesk