The task of getting Chekov’s themes across can be difficult for actors. In Jamie Lloyd’s stripped back stage and devoid of period costume, the actors are forced to deliver by sheer raw talent - and deliver they do. Lifting Chekov’s masterpiece from an undressed set to the inner eye of the audience with superb timing, empathy and conviction. Clarke reinforces that the 'Mother of Dragons’, surrounded by green screens in her most famous role needs none of it to give a performance. She is the real deal and away from the movies that will continue to come her way, she proves eminently capable of holding her own on the barest of boards at the cutting edge of her chosen profession. The rest of the cast are equally good, however I was most enthralled by Tamsin Outhwaite’s portrayal of Polina. Understated, broken-hearted, bitter, resentful and loving in a single breath. Read the full review at https://ianandrewauthor.com/the-seagull-a-review/

This is a very arty production - actors barely move. They're good, especially the secondary roles, but they speak in very low voices - in some cases you can barely hear them and it's annoying. This is true especially Emilia Clarke, who takes long, long, LONG pauses and barely lets out a sound when she's being especially emotional; I am sure she feels she is being true and natural but it's just boring. Other actors are excellent and funny in a quite Chekhovian way; it does bring out the atmosphere of the play to some extent. But the self indulgence of the directorial tricks impedes the effect.

If you have trouble sleeping ,you will be able sleep through this, boring, boring,boring. A few people started to leave after half an hour. The only good thing about this was that we had the tickets free. I gave it one star for the cast who were excellent. You might as well have had one person on stage reading from a book.

A novelty staging of Chekov's famous play played by a group of actors sitting on green plastic chairs on a woodchip adorned stage. No one ever leaves the stage (well, almost) just the chairs are rearranged to indicate something is happening. Speech is deliberately toned down so it is often inaudible. Overall i'd call it a recital, not a play. Minimalist is one word for it, complete travesty is another.

It is profoundly misleading to advertise this as a performance of Chekhov`s play,The Seagull. It is nothing of the kind. It is no more than a play reading.. There is none of the scenery so carefully described by Chekhov with the peaceful lake in the background. However, the backdrop of a chipboard panel is weirdly symbolic. Chipboard is a cheap, modern product in the absence of real wood with its grains and beauty. At least it is useful. This pretence at a performance is,clearly, cheap and abandons every element of poetry in the play. It is very much Emperor`s new clothes. It is not aplay and it isa disgrace to charge people money for it.