'I’m having absolutely nothing to do with the theatre or the human race. They can all go to hell.’ Anton Chekhov
During the turmoil of the Russian Revolution in 1917, Maria Chekhov, Anton’s sister, placed many of her late brother’s manuscripts and papers in a safety deposit box in Moscow. In 1921 Soviet scholars opened the bx and discovered a play.
The title page was missing. The play they found has too many characters, too many themes, too much action. All in all, it’s generally dismissed as unstageable. Like life. Dead Centre’s deconstructed and absurd take on Chekhov’s First Play explores the essence of Chekhov and of performance itself.
'A perceptive and funny dismantling of theatre' ★★★★★ The Stage
'Riveting. Takes a wrecking ball to theatrical convention' ★★★★ The Irish Times
