“A hungry dog believes in nothing but meat.” Prior to Thatcher’s rise to power in the early 80s, a family are faced with the prospect of cutting down their prized cherry orchard in an answer to financial uncertainty.
Following her flee to London after her husband’s untimely death, Rainey returns to her children and old manor house on the south coast of Pembrokeshire; the setting for this re-adaptation of a 20th century classic, to face her daughters’ fury and the fate of her family estate. The Cherry Orchard, the latest project between Welsh theatre heavyweights writer Gary Owen and director Rachel O’Riordan, is a witty piece that delves into humanity’s flaws, foibles and our refusal to face what’s right in front of us.
This reimagining of Anton Chekhov’s comedic yet compassionate portrayal of a flawed society depicts Britain on the brink of new leadership – specifically Margaret Thatcher’s sovereignty – and inevitable social change. Under Rachel O’Riordan’s direction, it is a modernised ode to the original dramatisation of the socio-economic forces Russia saw in the early 20th century, and mimics the social upheaval encompassed by Thatcher’s political regime.
The Cherry Orchard marks the first time Owen and O’Riordan have worked together since their acclaimed collaboration Killology. which premiered at the Sherman Theatre in Spring 2017. Owen’s take focuses on Thatcher’s abandoned post-war consensus that shaped the country we live in today. It has been acknowledged this year as a cornerstone of Wales’ homage to the centenary of the Russian Revolution, and presents themes of both economic and cultural shifts at the time. O’Riordan adds, “Chekhov is one of the great playwrights. His ability to articulate human interaction, with all its flaws and misunderstandings, makes him a natural writer for Gary Owen to adapt.”
The Sherman Theatre, Cardiff, Fri 13 – Sat 28 Oct. Tickets: £16-£26. Info: 029 2064 6900 / www.shermantheatre.co.uk
words LAURA BLACKWELL