A rural estate in Russia, a beautifully atmospheric lake view and surrounded by a soundscape of birdsong and nature, a group of artists – all of them with their own dreams of success and fears of failure. 
 

In ‘The Seagull’ we follow the aspirations of Konstantin Treplev, an ambitious young writer, who wishes to become successful with his art, but yearns more so for recognition and approval. Similarly young and ambitious, the youthful and at times naive Nina Zarechnaya has hopes of one day becoming a famous actress. Connected by big bright dreams of an exuberant future and a grey and gloomy present, the two find both love and conflict in each other’s presence.

Konstantin’s mother, Irina Arkadina, already an established and famed actress, is part of the community of Russian artists her son desperately longs to be included in, but being so has turned her selfish and vain. She finds herself enamoured by Boris Trigorin, who, spent his youth obsessively writing to build his career and, as a result, has grown observant, critical and distant to everyone around him. While Arkadina and him grow closer, Trigorin also becomes aware of Nina, her innocence and flattery reminding him of the many years he missed out on.

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While the main focus lies on the group of artists, the people who surround them on the estate portray equally complex inner lives – whether it be struggling through unrequited love, keeping everyone healthy, managing the estate or resigning yourself to a life you never wanted.

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‘The Seagull’ weaves together multiple stories of hope and hope lost, combining them into one play about creative minds, dreams of freedom, past regrets and grim tragedy.