Nikolai Ivanov is losing his mind. His life used to be full of possibility, but now he's moneyless on an old farm with his mendicant uncle and his inexplicably happy if slightly criminal cousin. He's in debt to his neighbours, nothing much makes sense to him anymore, and worst of all, his wife is dying. But one afternoon at a local birthday party, a glimmer of a new life reveals itself...
Written when he was 27, Ivanov is Anton Chekhov's first full-length play. Eamon Flack's adaptation was written specially for Belvoir. Updated to the present, and set in a 'Russia' that may or may not resemble modern Australia, this is the first professional production of Chekhov's marvellous, overlooked comedy.
EAMON FLACK graduated from the acting course at WAAPA in 2003 and has since worked as a director, actor, writer and dramaturg for Belvoir, Melbourne Theatre Company, Malthouse Theatre, Bell Shakespeare’s Mind’s Eye, Perth International Arts Festival, Darwin Festival, Playwriting Australia and various other companies. For Belvoir, Eamon has directed Life of Galileo, Packer & Sons, Counting & Cracking (with S. Shakthidharan), Ghosts, The Rover, Ivanov, Angels in America Parts One and Two, The Glass Menagerie, Mother Courage and Her Children, Babyteeth, As You Like It, Twelfth Night or What You Will, The Blind Giant is Dancing, The Great Fire, Once in Royal David’s City and The End. Eamon has adapted and directed Gorky’s Summerfolk (Bob Presents) and his adaptation of Antigone was produced at the Perth International Arts Festival and published by Currency Press. Eamon and Shakthi’s production of Counting & Cracking won seven Helpmann Awards in 2019, including Best New Australian Work, Best Production of a Play and Best Direction of a Play. It also received the Victorian Prize for Literature and Prize for Drama in the 2020 Victorian Premier’s Literary Awards, and Best Mainstage Production, Best New Australian Work and Best Original Score at the 2019 Sydney Theatre Awards. Eamon’s productions of The Glass Menagerie and Angels in America have both won Best Play at the Helpmann Awards. Ivanov won four Sydney Theatre Awards including Best Mainstage Production and Best Direction.
| Cast Info | 5F, 5M |
| Genres | Adaptations, Comedy |
| Themes | Full length play |
| Audiences | Adult |
| Extent | 104 |
| Edition | CTS |
| Size |