Meet the Show: Bitesize Chekhov
For one night only The Nutshell Arts Centre plays host to a Chekhov medley! We caught up with London based theatre company We Are Animate, to talk all things Chekhov before they arrive in Winchester on the 21st March.
Bitesize Chekhov celebrates the lesser known works of Anton Chekhov, how did you arrive at choosing to unite The Dangers of Tobacco, The Proposal and Swan Song?
We’d always wanted to present Chekhov’s work in a fresh, accessible way, and to draw out the comedy in his writing that is so often overlooked. His one-act plays, written before his better-known masterpieces, offered us a fabulous opportunity to showcase the entire spectrum of his writing sensibilities, from farce, to pathos, to surrealism, across three entirely different pieces, and still clocking in at under an hour. The three plays in question are a perfect fit, as they deal with similar themes (regret, societal expectation, missed opportunities) but are thoroughly individual in their style. This allows us a thematic through-line as a solid undercurrent across three distinct genres.
What makes Chekhov’s work relevant today?
As with any enduring classic play, the themes within Chekhov’s writing are timeless, and therefore always relevant. His plays deal with ordinary people and their relationships, in all manners of their complexity. Though the world around us is entirely different to the 1880s, human nature remains remarkably similar. Our thoughts, desires, regrets, ambitions are as real now as they were for people 120 years ago, and the best writers are able to capture that in their work. Chekhov achieves this, and therefore I’m sure your audience will find a huge amount to relate to in each of the three short plays.
What unites the style of theatre at We Are Animate?
All our work is made with the audience experience in mind. We aim to strip away any unnecessary extravagance, and get down to the meat of the story. Simple, minimalistic designs are complemented by more stylised sequences to create a stylish and sleek production, free of indulgence and full of energy. Our motto is Red Bull Theatre for the Netflix generation, and we try to honour that in all our work.
Can you tell us a bit about the process of making a show ?
We’re a very collaborative company. Though we do have a director to offer an outside eye, the rehearsal process is a group effort, with everyone chipping in with ideas and suggestions. If anyone feels strongly about an idea, we’ll try it out. This collective effort produces work which is inherently balanced and consistent, and everyone involved feels pride and ownership over the finished product. It’s also a huge amount of fun – everyone is really passionate about any given project, and we’re always incredibly excited to share what we’ve made with an audience.
We Are Animate arrive with their production - Bitesize Chekhov - at The Nutshell on Saturday 21st March 2020 | 7.30pm | £18/£10. Click this link to purchase your tickets NOW!
