We recently sat down with the talented cast and crew behind the upcoming production of Three Sisters. This adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s masterpiece captures all the comedic, tragic, and bittersweet moments of life. Meet the ensemble who are pouring their hearts into making this timeless tale resonate as deeply today as it did over a century ago.
About Three Sisters
What is this Production about?
After the death of their parents, something essential is lost in the lives of the Prozorov sisters – direction, purpose, and hope. In a small provincial Russian town, their days pass quietly, filled with memory, longing, and unspoken desire; Irina longs to work and lead a life of independence. The fiery Masha is married to the sweet but unpassionate Kulygin, and privately burns for excitement. And Olga, the eldest, intelligent and loyal, has found herself living a life of subservience; she gives, and gives, and gives. All three look to Moscow as a symbol of the happiness they believe awaits them somewhere along the horizon – their lost paradise.
In Three Sisters, life unfolds between what is and what might have been. In this fragile space, faith, hope, and love rise like quiet prayers. The balance between laughter and tears is delicate; people talk with the deepest regrets while pouring tea, and dream of better futures while tripping over their own feet.
Written with humour, nostalgia, and deep compassion, Chekhov’s masterpiece tells a story of the passage of time and the persistence of hope. These characters are not distant figures from another time – they are us today, with all our joy, fear, desperation, desire, loneliness, and silence.
What’s challenging about bringing this script to life?
It’s quite the undertaking for our little company! We are working with the largest cast we’ve had thus far (11 people), using improvisation and Stanislavsky exercises to introduce freedom of movement and spontaneity while also being conscious of the size of the Old Fitz. Our director has carefully cast each of the characters, so we are in that stage of the rehearsal process where we are bringing detail and specificity to our performances whilst also remaining open to one another and trusting such a large ensemble to deliver a stellar piece of work. After all, this is a play that has no leading characters – we are each just a small piece in the grand picture of this play.
What sort of person is going to love this show?
Those who love Chekhov, and hopefully those who don’t! Every writer has a style and ethos. We hope to create a whole new following of his plays and stage it in a way we believe hasn’t quite been done yet. His unique humour and persistence in the face of adversity is a story that rings true even now – especially now. It’s easy to fall into the trap of making his plays dramatic and serious, but when has life been only that? Our aim is to show it all – from the tragic, to the comedic, to the in-between sweetness where our lives often sit. As one of our characters says: ‘Je suis content. Je suis content.”
What will the audience be thinking about in the car as they drive home after this show?
Hopefully, they’ll be thinking of themselves and who they’re going home to. ‘Three Sisters’ is as relatable now as it was then, 125 years ago. We want the people in the audience to see in each of our characters someone they’ve loved, someone they’ve lost – someone familiar, someone that’s just like them. How much has our need for family and kinship really changed since this play was first staged in 1901?
Another important facet of this family is that they are dreamers. “We will go to Moscow”, “Brother will become a professor”, “I shall work”, “I will be happy”. But, as the story progresses, how many of these beliefs manifest? This is as much of a cautionary tale as it is a family drama. At the risk of sounding cliché, people should leave the theatre thinking “This is my dream. And I MUST achieve it”. Don’t wait like they did. Don’t let life happen to you. What do you want out of your story? At the very least, it should revitalise you, make you want to be a good person.
No pressure.
Call someone out by name: who must come see this production?
Joel Edgerton!!!
As a collective of young, aspiring actors and creatives, his story keeps inspiring us to put out work we want to see on the big and small stages across Sydney and beyond (and the big screen too, one day). The greatest gift we have as a small company is working with each other, surrounding ourselves with like-minded and brave artists. People who have something to say. Likewise, his and his friends’ drive to produce work they believe in and to share stories that perhaps aren’t told very often echoes in our philosophy as well.
And his work! Most notably, his recent feature ‘Train Dreams’ is one we were all moved by. It’s something that immediately draws you in, creating an atmosphere that earns its sprawling moments of silence and tension. It’s about a simple man in a simpler time, with simple ambitions of starting a family and working.
Sound familiar?
Where can patrons purchase tickets to this production?
To book tickets to Three Sisters, please visit https://www.lastwaltzproductions.com/three-sisters.
Thank you so much for sharing your insights today. Break a leg; we are looking forward to Three Sisters filling the Old Fitz with laughter, tears, and plenty to reflect on in the quiet moments of life.
Other production interviews can be viewed in our About The Production Series.
