The Cherry Orchard Review: Kristin Scott Thomas is inspiring in this beautiful revival
14 October 2026 | 19:30 | Harold Pinter Theatre, London
⭐⭐⭐⭐ | PR - Invite
Chekhov's final play The Cherry Orchard premiered in 1904, just shortly before his death. A physician by training, he spent his life watching and studying people, and it shows.
In Conor McPherson's new adaptation, the words need no dusting off. More than 120 years from its debut, they land just right on the Harold Pinter Theatre's stage. Director Ian Rickson knows his Chekhov, having previously collaborated with Kristin Scott Thomas on The Seagull (2007), and later with McPherson on Uncle Vanya (2020) at this same theatre.
Ranevskaya (Kristin Scott Thomas) returns to her family estate after a few years in Paris, where she experienced heartbreak, love and betrayal. Back in Russia, she is met by a house full of memories and the beauty of her beloved cherry orchard. They face a dire financial situation, a crumbling multi-generational and multi-class community all under one roof. Ranevskaya brings back not just suitcases, but emotional baggage as an auction threatens to tear her estate apart.
Everything is staged on the top floor of what appears to be a large home. Chloe Lamford's set design is detailed and complements the notion of the passing of time, which is a powerful force through the play. 'What is five years?' asks the wealthy merchant Lopakhin (Stephen Mangan), who seeks to turn the orchard into a profitable cabin for tourists. Near the door, little marks with Cyrillic writing show the growing height of family members, as the walls are plagued with rising damp. Decay even goes as far as exposing the toes of characters through holed socks (costume by Sussie Juhlin-Wallén). The cherry orchard isn't seen, but imagined with a visual turn of the seasons.
Mangan's stage presence as Lopakhin is strong, but he is eclipsed by Kristin Scott Thomas' magnetic power. When she speaks fondly of Paris, her dual Franco-British nationalities as an actress come through as authentic. Scott Thomas' eyes carry Ranevskaya's grief as a mother, the love for nature and the strength of a familial leader amidst a fallen house. Her yearning for beauty and connection is inspiring.
Firs (Karl Johnson), a long-standing servant who has declined with age, attracts both despair and affection from the members of the household who allow him to be the living incarnation of their decrepit property. Supporting relationships such as the love affair between Dunyasha (Megan Cusack) and estate clerk Yepikhodov (Shubham Saraf) highlight how everyone is fixed in their 'station' within the social system. Even the role of ambivalent servant Yasha (Noof Ousellam) is put under the spotlight, asking whether he serves Madame or himself.
Sound designer Tom Gibbons and Music Supervisor Bruce O'Neil bring a thoughtful depth to the production. Saraf's Yepikhodov plays the guitar in a touching scene, joined by Ousellam's Yasha singing alongside him. Live music brings people together: Act Two opens with a temporary celebration carried by a travelling band, which quickly descends into commiseration when Lopakhin delivers unfortunate news on the estate. The orchard's loss is emotionally painful to watch unfold across the play.
From the opening, this orchard becomes the symbol of a 'mad climate' and an invitation to reflect on the social/natural structures that rule their lives. Whilst the cherry trees blossom and hibernate in cycles, humans are blind to what surrounds them. Chekhov's visionary words hold a resonance with contemporary conversations on climate change, wealth and class inequality.
Playing at the Harold Pinter Theatre until the 9th January 2027, Rickson and McPherson's revival of The Cherry Orchard is a beautiful rendition of a timeless play. Kristin Scott Thomas takes centre stage, supported by a thoroughly well-played ensemble. It asks audiences what's most valuable to an individual, a community, and to humankind.
Tickets and Information for The Cherry Orchard: https://thecherryorchardplay.co.uk/
