Chekhov described his play in a letter to a friend: “A comedy, three women’s parts, six men’s, four acts, a landscape (view of a lake), a great deal of conversation about literature, little action, five tons of love.” It’s also one of the masterpieces of theatre about theatre, an exploration of how telling stories and coining symbols interacts with life. By turns elevated and scrappy, gorgeous and mundane, The Seagull is a vision of humanity enduring in the presence of eternity.

Benedict Andrews has been delivering a series of brilliant investigations of the essential human questions in a career spanning Europe and Australia. All the while he’s been yearning to make his way back to this cornerstone writer. Now he’s gathering a brilliant ensemble of actors including the great actress Judy Davis as the great actress Arkadina, for Chekhov’s splendid telling of LIFE.

The Seagull contains loud noises and (non-toxic) smoke and haze.