Translation. Region: Russian Federal
Source: Moscow Government – Moscow Government –
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Anton Chekhov wrote The Seagull, the first of his four most famous plays, in 1895–1896. "I've finished the play. It's called 'The Seagull.' It's not very good. Generally speaking, I'm not a very good playwright," he self-critically noted in a letter to the singer and writer Elena Shavrova-Yust. Chekhov was concerned about the play's fate, but it ultimately won the hearts of audiences and readers. That same year, 1896, the writer completed work on Uncle Vanya, and in 1900 and 1903, respectively, Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard were published, marking the pinnacle of Anton Chekhov's playwriting.
The premiere performances of "The Seagull" (1896) at the Alexandrinsky Theatre were a disastrous success. "The acting was so poor that the play itself was invisible through the acting, and I left St. Petersburg not knowing which was worse—the play, the acting, or both," Chekhov wrote at the time. But in 1898, Konstantin Stanislavsky and Vladimir Nemirovich-Danchenko staged "The Seagull" at the Moscow Art Theatre (MKhT). It was a colossal success (the stylized silhouette of a seagull, based on a sketch by Fyodor Shekhtel, later became the emblem of the MKhT), and for over 100 years, the play has been a fixture on theatre stages worldwide.
Moscow theater directors are offering their own versions of the legendary "Seagull"—this fall, you can see both purely academic productions and performances that could be called experimental.
"The Seagull with a Continuation" at the Theatre on Bronnaya
Address: Malaya Bronnaya Street, Building 4
Age limit: 18
The production features Elizaveta Bazykina, Sergei Gorodnichy, Ivan Tarasov, and other actors. The director himself appears on stage as Trigorin.
You can purchase tickets using the service Mosbilet.
"The Seagull" at the Pyotr Fomenko Workshop
Address: Tarasa Shevchenko Embankment, Building 29
Age limit: 16
At the end of the 19th century, "The Seagull" revolutionized theatrical art. The delicate interplay of relationships, the virtuoso use of understatement, characters who speak not with words but "what lies behind them," the yearning for perfection, and a musically attuned ensemble of actors—everything that earned Anton Chekhov the reputation of a reformer of theater and drama—was also resonant with Kirill Pirogov, who staged the play at the Pyotr Fomenko Workshop. He attempted to convey everything Chekhov himself had instilled in the play, focusing on the characters' personalities and their destinies, which crumble while they dine and drink tea onstage.
The production stars Galina Tyunina, Fyodor Malyshev, Sofia Lukinykh, and other actors. Kirill Pirogov is also involved in the production, playing the role of Trigorin.
Tickets can be purchased using the service Mosbilet.
"The Seagull 73 458" at the Taganka Theatre
Address: Zemlyanoy Val Street, Building 76/21, Building 1
Age limit: 12
The five-digit number in the play's title refers to the number of productions of the play at the beginning of 2017—the premiere of "The Seagull" took place at the Taganka Theatre on April 21, 2017.
Dainius Kazlauskas's production is subtle and melancholic—artists relax in a secluded lakeside estate, reflecting on their dreams, talent, and the search for their own path. Everyone is in love (with the wrong people), but the production is much larger and more expansive than the story of a love triangle. Despite the unusual title, the creators relied entirely on the original text. At the same time, the director found a new approach to composition: the play doesn't end with a gunshot, but begins with one. Dainius Kazlauskas placed Konstantin Treplev in a space of memories: the young man is forced to see what happened to him again and again.
The cast of "The Seagull 73 458" includes Olga Lomonosova (in 2017, the role of Irina Arkadina was played by Irina Apeksimova – this was her debut at the Taganka Theatre), Alexandra Khovanskaya, Sergey Veksler, Daria Avratinskaya, Vasily Urievsky, and other actors.
You can buy tickets on the service Mosbilet.
"The Seagull" at the Southwest Theatre
Address: Vernadsky Avenue, Building 125
Age limit: 12
"The Seagull" has been performing at the Southwest Theatre for many years now—the current version premiered in May 2009. The production was directed by Valery Belyakovich, who was then the theatre's director, and he also designed the set and costumes.
The languid rhythm of dacha life near the "enchanted lake," conversations about art, the characters' light-colored attire, and the famous Chekhovian subtext, when behind every phrase lies a deep meaning and a growing, thickening tension in the air, when no one can reach mutual love and something new arises, breaking against the misunderstanding of those closest to them—this is "The Seagull" at the Southwest Theatre.
The production here is a clash of strong personalities, a blend of Russian romance and drums, a lack of scenery and strange floating props that occasionally interrupt the stage space, as well as the lives of people. Valery Belyakovich weaves the thread of Nina's fate primarily, but the performances of almost every character make it impossible to focus solely on her. The theme of Kostya, the Russian Hamlet, rises to classical heights here, while remaining understandable and recognizable to modern audiences—both adults and teenagers. This is accentuated by the relationship between the "older" couple.
"The Seagull" at the Southwest Theatre is perhaps one of the few productions where Arkadina and Trigorin love not only themselves in art, but also each other.
Tickets are available at the service Mosbilet.
With service Mosbilet It's convenient and enjoyable to plan any kind of leisure activity—from theater and concerts to sports activities and picnics. Tickets are sold without markups or intermediary commissions. The service also offers many free events. You can also purchase tickets for new season theater premieres and performances featuring famous artists. If you have a full or standard mos.ru account, you don't need to enter personal information when purchasing. Tickets for children are purchased using a simplified process. Users of the service don't need to bring identification to attend cultural events; they simply show the ticket inspector their digital ticket's QR code.
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