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“To Russia With Love” celebrates Chekhov centenary

July 16, 2004

Armidale will turn its mind to all things Russian during July and August with a special celebration to mark the centenary of the great playwright Anton Chekhov.

The "To Russia With Love" festival of events will run from July 22 to August 22 and include a "Vodka and Verse" evening, a special screening of "Dr Zhivago", a season of "The Good Doctor" at the Armidale Playhouse, and a series of acting workshops conducted by Sue Fell from the University of New England.

It is the brainchild of Hungarian-born director Barbara Albury and the committee of keen Russophiles from the Armidale Playhouse.

“Chekhov’s centenary is being celebrated all around the world this year and we thought Armidale should join in,” Ms Albury says.

“He was Russia’s greatest playwright, and his influence remains strong in the theatre along with his collaboration with Stanislavsky, whose acting theory created its own revolution.”

The centrepiece of the festival will be the production of "The Good Doctor" at the Armidale Playhouse, opening on August 4 for a three-week run. The play is Neil Simon’s adaptation of several Chekhov short stories, each reflecting amusing insights into human weakness and vulnerability.

In conjunction with the play, UNE lecturer, actor and director Sue Fell will hold three Saturday afternoon acting workshops, on August 7,14 and 21, at Smith House. Participants will be introduced to the famous Stanislavsky technique through three of Chekhov’s most famous plays.

Posted by Jim Scanlan at July 16, 2004 03:21 PM