The Cherry Orchard by Royal Shakespeare Company at Swan Theatre

Just ahead of the revival of The Cherry Orchard at the Harold Pinter Theatre in London, the Royal Shakespeare Company presented its own production of the Russian classic at the Swan Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon. Staged by Tamara Harvey (Mark Rylance’s former assistant director at Shakespeare’s Globe), this adaptation uses a new version of Chekhov’s play written by Laura Wade (Breathing Corpses, Home, I’m Darling), its language significantly updated.

Precisely ten minutes after the performance was due to begin in the atmospheric riverside playhouse, the doors to the auditorium closed, and with them, the surrounding chatter instantly fell silent. The show takes place on a Y-shaped stage with two runways branching off into the audience, who surround the stage on three sides. Only the second-floor gallery forms a complete circle, but its space above the stage is reserved for live musicians accompanying the piece. Suspended from the ceiling are what look like pressed cherry blossoms encased in transparent frames, the sole suggestion of the lavish beauty suggested by the title. The set features greyish white columns, skeletal trees and bare boughs, evoking a feeling of coldness that will be echoed in some of the play’s early dialogues. Before Madame Ranyevskaya (Helen Hunt) and family arrive at their former home, however, and comment on the temperature, the audience is shocked to discover that in a Saw-like twist, Kenneth Branagh’s Lopakhin has been lying on stage this whole time, hidden under sheets covering the sparse furniture.

The production leans into the humour found in Chekhov’s tragicomedy, the gap between the characters’ perception of themselves and their status, and the reality of their circumstances. Perhaps this decision comes at the expense of political resonance, as the production feels overly safe at a time when inherited privilege and aristocratic power are increasingly being questioned.

The actors play in their native accents: American for Hunt and Bill Pullman (best known for his iconic screen roles, he previously appeared on the West End stage in 2019’s All My Sons and Mad House in 2022), while Branagh and Julian Moore-Cook sound (Northern) Irish. Pullman flourishes as comic relief, while Hunt brings a quiet emotional depth, anchoring the profound sense of loss that defines the characters’ experience.

The individual performances of this stellar ensemble leave little to be desired in terms of delivery. However, those who dare to look beyond the actor currently speaking may notice moments when concentration wanes for some performers waiting for their next entrance into the scene.

While it may not uncover every layer of Chekhov’s bite, the Royal Shakespeare Company’s production of The Cherry Orchard offers a richly entertaining and finely acted interpretation that is a reminder why plays over 100 years old continue to resonate with audiences today.

Selina Sondermann
Photo: Johan Persson

The Cherry Orchard by Royal Shakespeare Company is at Swan Theatre until 29^th August 2026. For further information or to book, visit the theatre’s website here.