National Theatre of Kiev presents
Overview
Running Time: 1 hour 40 minutes no interval
A Part of National Theatre of Kiev’s Russian Language Season at St. James Theatre.
“My Mocking Happiness” is drawn from Anton Chekhov’s personal correspondence with his wife, Olga Knipper-Chekhova, and close friend, Lika Mizinova. Alive with intimate and personal detail, the letters reveal the writer’s complex inner life – his musings on theatre, art, 20th century psychology, society and power. He also discusses his timeless dramas “Uncle Vanya”, “Three Sisters” and “The Cherry Orchard”. Structurally similar to Jerome Kilty’s 1960 play “Dear Liar”, “My Mocking Happiness” has been staged at Kiev’s Lesya Ukrainka Theatre for more than fifty years.
This production was devised by none other than David Borovsky, among the greatest scenographers of the 20th century. Borovsky represents the reminiscences of Olga Knipper-Chekhova in the sounds of the pipe organ which was playing in the church nearby the Chekhov home in Badenweiler on the night when the great writer passed. The instrument is constructed on stage with birch trees standing in for the ranks of organ pipes, and it is here that all the action takes place. The performance closes with the thought: “A conversation about the Earth, a thousand years from now, on some other planet: Do you remember those white trees…those birches?”
Epistolary Novel in Dramatic Form for the Stage.
This production is part of the National Theatre of Kiev’s Russian language season at St. James Theatre. This production will be performed in Russian and will be live-dubbed in English to be enjoyed in either language. Other productions in the season include:
- Ward of the Manor
- Life’s Little Nothings
- Don Juan
Times & Prices
Performance Times
| Fri 11th & Sat 12th | 7.30pm |
Ticket Prices
| Band A | £35 |
| Band B | £25 |
| Band C | £15 |
| Band D | £10 |
Concessions, Groups & Access Bookings
Groups: £5.00 off Band A tickets for groups of 8+
Concessions: £5 off Band A Tickets, valid for Students, Senior, Equity members, Victoria privilege cardholders and those on Job Seekers Allowance.
If you have any access requirements please contact the Box Office on 0844 264 2140.
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