CHEKHOV'S
FIRST PLAY
Photograph: Adam Trigg
I’m having absolutely nothing to do with the theatre or the human race.
They can all go to hell.
Anton Chekhov
During the turmoil of the Russian Revolution in 1917, Maria Chekhov, Anton’s sister, placed many of her late brother’s manuscripts and papers in a safety deposit box in Moscow. In 1921 Soviet scholars opened the box, and discovered a play.
The title page was missing. The play they found has too many characters, too many themes, too much action. All in all, it’s generally dismissed as unstageable. Like life.
Chekhov's First Play premiered Sept 23rd 2015 at Samuel Beckett Centre, Dublin as part of Dublin Theatre Festival.
For all touring info, please contact info@deadcentre.org
WINNER: Best Sound Design, Irish Times Theatre Awards 2015
“An essay on Chekhov, theatre and life. Deeply moving.”
Süddeutsche Zeitung
“A brilliant endeavour. Riveting to watch.”
Irish Times
“An iconoclastic and joyful version of Platonov. Returns us to the essence of theatre.”
Le Monde
“Compelling. Gets to the heart of Chekhov without looking or sounding remotely like him.”
Financial Times
Original Cast
Liam Carney
Breffni Holahan
Rory Nolan
Rebecca O'Mara
Annie Ryan
Dylan Tighe
Set Design Andrew Clancy
Effects and Onstage Design Grace O'Hara
Costume Design Saileóg O'Halloran
Light Stephen Dodd
Sound Design Jimmy Eadie and Kevin Gleeson
Choreography Liv O'Donoghue
Trailer José Miguel Jiménez
Graphic Design Jason Booher
Text by Anton Chekhov, Ben Kidd and Bush Moukarzel
Direction Ben Kidd and Bush Moukarzel
Producer Matthew Smyth
On-tour team Eugenia Genunchi, Kevin Gleeson,
Barbara Hughes, Ellen Kirk, Nicola Zeidler, Hannah O’Reilly, Nora Kelly Lester
TRAILER
IMAGES
TOUR DATES
2016
April - Schaubühne, Berlin (DE)
May - Mayfest at Bristol Old Vic (UK)
July - BaltoScandal Festival, Rakvere (EE)
August - Noordezon Festival, Groningen (NL)
September - Brisbane Festival (AU)
October - TnBA, Bordeaux (FR)
2017
May - Theatre Vidy, Lausanne, Switzerland (CH)
August - Helsinki Festival, Finland (FI)
September - Tbilisi International Theatre Festival (GE)
October - Vie Festival, Modena (IT)
November - Alexandrinsky Theatre, St Petersburg (RU)
2018
September - ITA, Amsterdam (NL)
October - Romanian International Theatre Festival, Bucharest (RO)
November - BAC, London (UK)
2019
March - Hong Kong Arts Festival (CN)
April - Northern Stage, Newcastle (UK)
May - Liverpool Playhouse (UK)
2021
September - Mess Festival, Sarajevo (BA)
Chekhov's First Play was made possible by a Project Award from the Arts Council of Ireland. It was developed with the help of Battersea Arts Centre and co-commissioned by Battersea Arts Centre and Irish Arts Center. Co-production: Dublin Theatre Festival, Baltoscandal and TnBA. Project co-produced by NXTSTP, with the support of the Culture Programme of the European Union. Ongoing touring supported by Culture Ireland.
