Events Edinburgh

Event Details

John Byrne (Uncle Varick, Tutti Frutti, The Slab Boys) once again turns his renowned talents to the work of Chekhov in this gentle comedy of social upheaval. Here John retains the main plot of the original but relocates the action to Scotland in the late 1970s. In doing so he crafts a wonderful retelling of this classic tale.

In the far Northeast, time is almost up for the Ramsay-Mackays - their grand old house and the wonderful cherry orchard that goes with it are all that is left of their once-large fortune - and the vultures are circling...

Malky McCracken is an up-and-coming young investor, eager to free himself from his working class roots and make his name as a serious businessman. His zealous pursuit of the estate is countered by his fondness for the family themselves, not least adopted daughter Mhairi.

A comic and moving examination of a family, and those who surround it, revealing personal absurdities and tragedies in equal measure. John Byrne's new adaptation and Tony Cownie's direction mine the richness of Chekhov's tale to present a play of truly great characters.

Cast includes:

Maureen Beattie, Hannah Donaldson, Lesley Hart, Philip Bird, John Ramage, Andy Clark, Matthew Pidgeon, Myra McFadyen, Nicola Roy, John Kielty, Ralph Riach, Grant O'Rourke