Three Sisters – Sam Wanamaker Playhouse

The Shakespeare Globe hosts the first Chekhovian play the Three Sisters directed by Caroline Steinbeis, produced and reworked narrative supplied by Rory Mullarkey. This play has been remastered in such way that makes it plausible and translatable to viewing audiences.

The story revolves around the emotional lives of the ‘Three Sisters’ and their bother whom following the death of their father found themselves relocated to a town outside of Moscow. A place that lacked variety of life, opportunity and the people lacked self-worth, in their opinion. The sisters Michelle Terry ‘Olga’ was archetypical of a school mistress, although she never wished to be working let alone burdened with the responsibility of role, she found herself in. Irina the youngest sister portrayed by Ruby Thompson added a different dimension in that she was ambitious, fun-loving hopeful and wanted to work and be useful. Her inner struggles were acted out through the scenes to show how her expectations and dreams were never fulfilled in the away she hoped for and ‘how can this be’, she longed to go back to Moscow and live a life of freedom, love and hope.     

Masha the middle sister, Shannon Tarbet is the suffering wife to the once Intelligent school headmaster for which she has no feelings for and now finds him very unintelligent and boring, Masha finds herself at the mercy of a visiting married soldier she falls in love with gay abandonment, but then finds her emotional turmoil is too much to bear.

A standout performance by Colonel Vershinin played by Paul Ready provided a landscape of hope and will that through defeat and overcoming challenges there was a world of hope, prosperity and everlasting love. From the Baron, Alexksandr, the misguided gambling brother and his wife Natasha each character had an emotional story to tell.   

All the characters displayed their inner personality and utmost vulnerabilities portrayed through drama, comedy and tragedy brought to life on the stage; a basic Shakespearean recipe cooked up by the talent that is Rory Mullarkey pitched for a night of Shakespearean philosophical muse. However, this is ‘Russian’ in its content however the experience felt ‘typically British’ even nostalgic. This candlelit intimate play which moved through shades of light and dark only emphasised the change of mood and emotion of each character. There were a lot of running around the theatre which provided a comedic effect as this was like something from a ‘pantomime’ figuratively speaking and being set within the Globe you can dream and cast your mind to a time when actors in Shakespearean days entertained audiences with their ebbing movement of flow as the story unfolded. 

This play has Act one and Act two just under 3hrs in duration, but time is not issue as you became enthralled with the plot twists and emotionally attached to each character’s fate. The staging was apt, the theatre experience sublime, an arguably unfamiliar Chekhovian play has been beautifully recreated for European audiences old and new.  

Three Sisters is a ‘must see play it offers more than just a delve into Russian village life,it has outstanding cast performances and transports you to a place of nostalgic prose with dialogue suitable for a modern audience. 

Reviewer: Michelle Knight

Reviewed: 17^th February 2025

North West End UK Rating:

Directed by Caroline Steinbeis

Anton Chekhov’s work interpretated by Rory Mullarkey

Running Time approx. 2 hrs 50 minutes with a 20-minute interval

Act one 19.30: Act two 20.30: The show ends.

At the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse, London, until 19th April 2025. https://www.shakespearesglobe.com/whats-on/three-sisters/