The Cherry Orchard

Potential loss of magical childhood home causes family to question their identity and future.

Sahara BreeZe (SBZ) Productions are delighted to premiere this visually stunning new adaptation of The Cherry Orchard by Anton Chekhov at the Mayfair Theatre 16-25 Nov 2023.

Written by Anton Chekhov in 1903, the first production of The Cherry Orchard was famously directed as a tragedy even though the writer, Chekhov, intended it to be played as a comedy. Regarded as a theatrical masterpiece, it is as relevant today as it was in the past.

In this story, the Ranevsky family live on an old estate with a wonderful cherry orchard. Despite being in economic crisis, they are unable to change their expensive lifestyle to pay the mortgage on their estate, so it has to be auctioned off. Still not all is lost as they have a way out: to cut the cherry orchard down, and subdivide the land for holiday houses. But their family home and orchard hold so many magical memories.

This production is the premiere of a new adaptation directed and adapted by Dunedin based theatre maker Blaise Barham, who brings this Russian play into a more modern New Zealand context. It is adapted from a translation by Stuart Young and includes original music by AJ Hickling. This version focuses on themes of how we deal with loss, adapt to an ever changing world, and struggle between how to live on, and yet not destroy, our beautiful planet.

This adaptation also uses a blend of traditional, musical, and physical theatre, as well as French and Russian clowning. Barham draws on skills learnt from master clown Philippe Gaulier during a recent training season in Paris, as well as aerial circus, to highlight the spectacle and comedy of the piece.

This Chekhov adaptation will include an ensemble cast. In order of appearance:

Veles - Sam Meikle
Matushka Zemlya - Clare Lewis
Yermolay Lopakhin - Cheyne Jenkinson
Dunyasha - Sofie Welvaert
Semyon Yepikhodov - Daniel McClymont
Pishchik & Firs - Brent Caldwell
Anya - Becky Hodson
Lyubov Ranevskaya - Sarah Barham
Varya - Aimee Freeman
Leonid Gayev - Matthew Brennan
Sharlotta Ivanovna - Imogen Duncan
Yasha - Bronson Toghill
Petya Trofimov - Josh Black
Aerialists - Rochelle Brophy & Dylan Woods

The Creatives

Director - Blaise Barham
Production Manager - Linda Brewster
Stage Manager (SM) - Christine Wilson
Assistant SM - Lydia O’Callaghan 

Technical Director - Josh Wiegman - Lighting Design & Op - Tabitha Littlejohn - Audio Visual Design - Elizabeth Audas - Set Design - Peter King - Aerial choreography - Rochelle Brophy - Sound/Music Design - Blaise Barham - Sound Operator - Abby Fernandes - Hair & Make-Up - Sharon Ferguson - Costume Coordination - Linda Brewster