The Cherry Orchard Tickets

2011 is shaping up to be another good year for the National Theatre, with its production of “Frankenstein” drumming up a wealth of publicity thanks to its director Danny Boyle and its cast that includes Benedict Cumberbatch and Jonny Lee Miller. But Mary Shelley’s story is not the only classic to be revived this year and in May audiences will get an opportunity to witness Andrew Upton’s production of Anton Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard”. With Zoë Wanamaker taking on a lead role in the proceedings and Andrew Upton returning following his gigs as working on shows like “Philistines”, “The White Guard” and “Riflemind” in the capital, it is shaping up to be a stand-out show.

“The Cherry Orchard” was first seen by audiences in Moscow when it was staged at the city’s Art Theatre in 1904. Since then it has survived the test of time and been staged regularly throughout the 20th century on stages all over the world. In London this has included numerous appearances on prestigious stages, with Sadler’s Wells presenting an acclaimed performance in 1934, the RSC welcoming it and other venues such as the Old Vic putting on memorable productions. In 2011 it arrived at the Noel Coward Theatre under the watch of Moscow’s Sovremennik Theatre, making the appearance at the National the second time London theatre audiences have experienced the show in recent months.

The story of “The Cherry Orchard” follows Madame Ranevskaya, a Russian aristocrat, who has spent many years abroad and returns to her family estate in the country, where she can relish in a treasured and beloved location – the cherry orchard. It holds some dear memories for her, but nostalgia soon takes second fiddle to the ongoing dramas of the family, with Ranevskaya and her brother making a terrible error in the handling of the property. It seems that the only way to get them out of this difficult situation is to sell off a treasured possession.

Those with theatre tickets will also see a familiar face as Zoë Wanamaker takes to the stage following her recent appearance in “All My Sons” at the Apollo Theatre in 2010, plus a career that includes “My Family”, the “Harry Potter” films and numerous performances for the Royal Shakespeare Company.

“The Cherry Orchard” begins its run at the Olivier National Theatre on Thursday 12th May 2011 and continues to Thursday 28th July 2011.