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11 - Acting Chekhov: 'a friend to the actor'

from Part 2 - Chekhov in production

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 May 2006

Vera Gottlieb
Affiliation:
Goldsmiths, University of London
Paul Allain
Affiliation:
University of Kent, Canterbury
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Summary

Ian McKellen has played more Chekhov roles than any other actor of his generation. These have included Konstantin in The Seagull in 1961-2 for The Belgrade Theatre, Coventry; Tusenbach for radio in a Caedmon production of Three Sisters, 1966; Konstantin in a BBC Radio production of The Seagull in 1967; a radio version of Chekhov's story 'A Provincial Life', dramatised by Peter Gill in 1970; Svetlovidov in Swan Song for the opening of the (then) new Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, November 1971; Khrushchev in The Wood-Demon, the Actors' Company in 1973, directed by David Giles, in Ronald Hingley's translation, Edinburgh Festival and then touring; Andrey (a part taken over by Timothy Spall for the Stratford run and televised production) in Trevor Nunn's Royal Shakespeare Company production of Three Sisters in the 1978 touring production (see chapter 9 in this volume); Lopakhin in a revival of The Cherry Orchard, directed and translated with Lilia Sokolova by Mike Alfreds at The National Theatre, designed by Paul Dart, opened December 1985 (first performed at the Crucible Theatre, Sheffield, September 1981, with Roger Sloman as Lopakhin); Platonov in Michael Frayn's version, Wild Honey, of Chekhov's unfinished play Platonov, directed by Christopher Morahan, The National Theatre, 1984-6; Vanya in Sean Mathias' production of Uncle Vanya, translated by Pam Gems, with Antony Sher as Astrov and Janet McTeer as Yelena, Royal National Theatre Studio production, then the Cottesloe, National Theatre, 1991. Most recently (October 1998) he has played Dr Dorn in Jude Kelly's production of The Seagull at the West Yorkshire Playhouse, designed by Robert Innes-Hopkins, in a translation/version by Tom Stoppard.

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Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2000

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