A classic at The Questors Studio

In Anton Chekhov's classic drama Uncle Vanya, opening on 27 February in The Questors' Studio Theatre in Ealing, a respected professor returns to his remote family estate after many years in the vibrant city of St Petersburg. He brings with him his beautiful and bewitching much younger second wife. But their arrival creates chaos and confusion amongst his family, and fuels three love affairs.

This production is performed in-the-round in The Questors' Studio, with audience sitting on all four sides, hemming in the characters in a way that reflects their feelings of being trapped in their own lives! Often regarded as Chekhov's greatest play, Uncle Vanya is an exquisitely executed masterpiece of tragicomic human desires and disappointment.

Chekhov's masterpiece blends farce and tragedy, as the characters stumble through a series of romantic crises and profound misunderstandings. Chekhov's unique ability to see comedy and tragedy as two sides of the same coin is both funny and moving, as we watch the family and their hangers-on tie themselves in emotional knots, which it takes an extraordinary event to untie.

Lisa Varty who plays Sonya says: "I've seen her described as 'Saintly Sonya' and I really, really wanted to avoid that. She's an intrinsically good person but I think she's pretty tough too. She spends a lot of time begging and beseeching and imploring various men in her life to be better, to be less selfish and consider their actions, often on her knees, often weeping. I've been concerned that it makes her seem too soft, or a pushover, when actually it's her selflessness and strength of character that enables her to look past her own pain and help them. Essentially, making sure her strength doesn't come across as a weakness. Sonya's a gift of a part -- complex and meaty and really rewarding. It's also been an absolute pleasure working with the cast and crew, it's lovely to feel like we're all absolutely on the same page and working towards the same thing."

The Questors' Studio is perfect for a close-up view of Chekhov's gallery of complex and memorable characters -- and seeing them literally in-the-round is a treat not to be missed!

24th February 2015