Sydney Theatre Company and Goldman Sachs JBWere in association with Bell Shakespeare present
Uncle Vanya
by Anton Chekhov, in a new adaptation by Andrew Upton
On a dilapidated, remote farm Uncle Vanya (RIchard Roxburgh) and his niece Sonya have worked slavishly to sustain an estate in decline. And so it has been for years.
Now Professor Serebryakov (John Bell) and his beautiful young wife, Yelena (Cate Blanchett), have returned to visit. Adding to the chaos and disruption are the constant visits of the charismatic Astrov (Hugo Weaving). Lunch is no longer served at lunch time - now it is procrastinated until dusk - work is forgotten and the long, cool nights have become sleepless.
From this hotbed of disarray grow three consuming love affairs, each of which is destined to wither in disappointment before it has reached bloom.
It is in this climate of frustration and hopelessness that the Professor chooses to unveil his shocking plan to sell the estate. Faced with an uncertain future, Vanya is provoked into an act of violence which is as humiliatingly unsuccessful as his attempts at romance.
Gliding effortlessly between comedy and tragedy, this treasured classic from Anton Chekhov lays bare the fruitlessness of human endeavour with exceptional warmth, humour and insight.
SYDNEY THEATRE
Schools Day Wed 17 Nov
Pre-show Intro 10:30am, 45 minutes
Performance 12:15pm
Duration 2 hours 45 minutes, including interval
Post-show Q&A immediately following, 15 minutes
Suits Years 10 - 12
Why Book? Some of Australia’s finest actors in one of Chekhov’s most loved plays.
Photos: Derek Henderson
