Chekhov’s The Seagull comes to the candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe in a fresh new version by Rory Mullarkey, directed by Caroline Steinbeis. One of the greatest plays ever written, it trades grand events for the quiet devastations of ordinary life: the crushes that go unanswered, the talent that goes unrecognised, and the years that slip away while everyone waits for their real life to begin.
At a country house beside a lake, the celebrated actress Arkadina holds court with her novelist lover Trigorin. Her son Konstantin, desperate to be taken seriously as a writer, stages an experimental play for Nina, the neighbour’s daughter who longs for the stage herself. When Nina falls instead for the older, famous Trigorin, a chain of longing and heartbreak is set in motion that will echo across the years. It is by turns very funny and quietly shattering, a portrait of people forever reaching for a happiness just out of grasp.
The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, the Globe’s intimate indoor theatre lit almost entirely by candle flame, is the perfect setting for Chekhov’s chamber tragedy. Surrounded by warm wood and wavering candlelight, only steps from the actors, you feel every silence and every small cruelty, making this one of the most atmospheric ways to experience a classic anywhere in London.
Why it’s worth the watch
The Seagull is a chance to see one of theatre’s defining plays in one of its most beautiful spaces. Here is why it stands out:
- A brand-new version. Rory Mullarkey’s fresh translation makes Chekhov feel sharp, funny and immediate.
- Candlelight and intimacy. The Sam Wanamaker Playhouse plays entirely by candlelight, so you are close enough to catch every flicker of feeling.
- The play that started modern drama. The Seagull changed what theatre could be, and its tangle of unrequited love still feels startlingly current.
- Remarkable value. With tickets starting low, it is one of the most rewarding nights in London for the money.
