The Cherry Orchard @ C aquila

Kronos Productions' new adaptation of Chekhov's classic The Cherry Orchard re-imagines the play and places it in 1980s Britain, a time when social mobility was changing the face of Britain's old families: inherited wealth was falling to the wayside next to up-and-coming businessmen.

This Thatcher-era setting certainly gets to the heart of Chekhov's message. The performances are all very strong and, while the actors do work well off one another, it's the way they all talk without listening that really reveals each individual's vulnerability as they try to find the meaning of their place in society.

It's a compelling translation, and, in opening up the politics and the effects of social reform that lie at the heart of the work, it stays true to Chekhov's noble intentions. And while it's a play full of self-centred characters, it's difficult for the audience, who can see and understand each different selfish perspective, to know who's in the right, and it's all too easy to see the missed connections. [Emma Ainley-Walker]