photo: © Antera
A fresh look at Chekhov's
The Cherry Orchard, in a project that goes beyond theatre
The Cherry Orchard is one of Chekhov's most iconic plays, giving us a deep analysis of the changing society of 20th century Russia. In this play there are achievements and tragedies, fears and elations, in a collage of contrasts that embraces all possible emotions.
Indeed, it is only through a certain contemporary sensibility that The Cherry Orchard is seen as a tragedy. Chekhov himself subtitled the play Comedy in Four Acts, perfectly aware of the comic nature of the tragic and sometimes absurd facts of our lives.
That is why in this continuously developing creation we do not intend to simply present a staging of Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard: we want to offer a moment of sublimation through the profound analysis of the processes that make up the peripeteia of our Characters on the stage of life.
photo: © Sara Camilo, © Antera
Beyond the play
and the actors
Cerejal is an experimental project of joint creation, inviting people from different areas and with different levels of experience. It is not intended to be a staging in the mould of the theatre tradition, but to invite the participants to analyse and explore themselves, inviting them to express their own language.
This crossing of disciplines is closely linked to the artistic transformation plan of the CerejATO project, an extended project of which Cerejal is the first moment.
photo: © Antera
The world outside the blackbox (or is it whitebox?)
Given its experimental nature and the work-in-progress character of the project, the play O Cerejal does not intend to assume itself as a fixed creation in terms of scenery or props, but rather to assume the proper place where it is hosted, based on the existing lighting and the conditions of the space.
This scenographic honesty is closely linked to the experimentation that we intend to assume for this first moment of the CerejATO project, embracing the personal, cultural, artistic and territorial diversity that we intend to invite to this project.
production and creation ATO — Associação Terras de Ourondo
text Anton Chekhov, The Cherry Orchard
artistic direction, dramaturgy and staging Luciano Amarelo
actingAntónia Alves, Cláudia Bonina, Luciano Amarelo, Mónica Sousa, Pedro Estima, Rui Neto, remaining actors still to define
music still to define
executive production Xana Lagusi
photography Sara Camilo, Antera
graphic design David Costa
partners BOTA, Safra, Pena.SCO, Escola do Largo
support Câmara Municipal de Lisboa, Polo Cultural das Gaivotas
