Adapting Chekhov in the 21st Century

Rediscover Anton Chekhov's acclaimed works in radical, creative new ways. The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard: Chekhov's major plays have been perennially popular since the late 19th century. But, as a new wave of diverse, contemporary theatre makers engage with his legendary works, these classics are transformed and reimagined by bold new approaches. In doing so, Chekhov's original drama is not only explored but reanimated and interrogated in revolutionary ways. From an ambitious one-person production, to a dance-poetry-play hybrid, to an intergalactic voyage, Chekhov’s work has never been so expansive or his experimental spirit so realised. This collection draws together seven contrasting adaptations, ranging from the formally inventive, to those that relocate the originals in times and places that expose forces of privilege and power. With an introduction by Frances Babbage which equips the reader with key methods of conceptualising dramatic adaptation, as well as providing a critical overview of the long history of Chekhovian rewritings for the stage, Adapting Chekhov in the 21st Century is a much-needed tool for adaptation and theatre studies students and Chekhov enthusiasts alike.

RashDash is Abbi Greenland, Becky Wilkie and Helen Goalen, and is a company of performers, musicians and makers. Their works include LOOK AT ME DON’T LOOK AT ME (supported by Slung Low, Paines Plough, HOME and Theatre Clwyd), DON’T GO BACK TO SLEEP: THE LOCKDOWN ALBUM - a verbatim concept album made after interviewing 18 people from 12 countries in lockdown, THREE SISTERS (co-production with Royal Exchange Theatre, co-commissioned by The Yard, Tobacco Factory Theatres, The Old Vic, MAYK and Cambridge Junction), THE DARKEST CORNERS (a large scale, outdoor, headphone show for Transform Festival 2017), TWO MAN SHOW (made with Northern Stage and Soho Theatre, Edinburgh Fringe First Winner 2016, Stage Award for Acting Excellence, shortlisted for an Off West End Award), SNOW WHITE & ROSE RED (a Christmas show for Cambridge Junction, 2015 and Battersea Arts Centre, 2017), WE WANT YOU TO WATCH (by RashDash and Alice Birch, National Theatre and UK Tour, 2015), OH, I CAN’T BE BOTHERED (shortlisted for an Off West End Award, Soho Theatre, 2014), THE UGLY SISTERS (shortlisted for the Total Theatre Award for Experimentation and Innovation, Edinburgh Festival, 2012), DARK WOODS DEEP SNOW (a Christmas show written by Chris Thorpe and directed by Lorne Campbell for Northern Stage, 2013) THE FRENZY & SET FIRE TO EVERYTHING!!! (outdoor shows commissioned by Lyric Hammersmith, GDIF, Imagine Watford and Latitude), THE TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA (a collaboration with Matthew Dunster for The Royal and Derngate, Northampton, 2011), SCARY GORGEOUS (Edinburgh Fringe First Award winner 2011), ANOTHER SOMEONE (Fringe First award winner 2010), and THE HONEYMOON.

Dead Centre make things in theatres. Formed in Dublin in 2012 by Bush Moukarzel, Ben Kidd and Adam Welsh, Dead Centre's first project, Souvenir, was created in Dublin in 2012, and then toured to London and New York. Their second project, (S)quark! happened once in Dublin on Bloomsday, and once in Russia at the Tolstoy Estate. Lippy premiered at the Dublin Fringe Festival 2013 and won Best Production and Best Design at the Fringe Awards, and Best Production at the Irish Times Theatre Awards.

Born in Nigeria, Inua Ellams, MBE, is a poet, playwright & performer, graphic artist & designer. He is a Complete Works poet alumni and facilitates workshops in creative writing where he explores reoccurring themes in his work - Identity, Displacement and Destiny - in accessible, enjoyable ways for participants of all ages and backgrounds.

His awards include: Edinburgh Fringe First Award 2009, the Liberty Human Rights Award, The Live Canon International Poetry Prize, The Kent & Sussex Poetry Competition, Magma Poetry Competition, Winchester Poetry Prize, an Arts Council of England Award, a Wellcome Trust Award, A Black British Theatre Award and The Hay Festival Medal for Poetry. In June 2023, He was honoured with an MBE for Services To The Arts.

He has been commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company, National Theatre, Tate Modern, Louis Vuitton, Chris Ofili, BBC Radio & Television. His poetry books include Thirteen Fairy Negro Tales and Candy Coated Unicorn and Converse published Flipped Eye, The Wire-Headed Heathen by Akashic Books. His plays include Black T-shirt Collection, The 14th Tale, Barber Shop Chronicles and Three Sisters published by Oberon. He founded The Midnight Run (an arts-filled, night-time, urban walking experience.) The Rhythm and Poetry Party (The R.A.P Party) which celebrates poetry & hip hop, and Poetry + Film / Hack (P+F/H) which celebrates Poetry & Film.

Vinay Patel’s debut play, True Brits, opened at the Edinburgh Fringe 2014, before transferring to the Bush Theatre and Vault Festival. His latest play, An Adventure, ran at the Bush in late 2018. His first piece for television, Murdered By My Father, won the Royal Television Society award for Best Single Drama and was nominated for three BAFTAs. Vinay was named a BAFTA Breakthrough Brit for his work.

He has since written for Paines Plough, ITV, Channel 4 and the BFI, as well as contributing to the bestselling collection of essays, The Good Immigrant. Most recently, Vinay wrote for the 11th and 12th series of Doctor Who - receiving a Hugo nomination - and is developing further projects for TV, theatre and film.

For more than twenty-five years Simon Stephens’ work has been widely translated and produced throughout the world. He has won many Awards including Olivier and Tony Awards for new plays. His 2026 play An Ark staged by Tim Drum Collective at the Shed in New York was one of the first plays ever written for Mixed Reality . His radical adaptation of Uncle Vanya, Vanya, starring Andrew Scott ran in London’s West End and at the Lucille Lortel , New York between Autumn 23 and Spring 25 and was screened to phenomenal success on NT Live and NT Home. His adaptation of Jose Saramago’s Blindness was made into a light and sound installation that was produced internationally during the Covid 19 pandemic. His most famous play is his adaptation of Mark Haddon’s best-selling novel, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time. He has had thirty five original plays produced professionally.

He has written new English language versions of masterpieces by Chekhov, Ibsen and Brecht, collaborated with the world’s leading theatre practitioners (Patrice Chereau, Ivo Van Hove, Marianne Elliott, Katie Mitchell) and produced original work throughout Europe, Asia, Australia and the Americas.

He has been Artistic Associate at the Lyric, Hammersmith and Associate Playwright at the Royal Court Theatre. He has taught playwriting workshops in five continents. He has presented four series of the celebrated Playwright’s Podcast from the Royal Court Theatre. He is a Professor at the Writing School of Manchester Metropolitan University. His book A Working Diary was published by Methuen Bloomsbury in 2016. He lives in East London with his wife, three children, their snake, two cats and two dogs.