THE CHERRY ORCHARD

About the show

A blistering reimagining of Chekhov’s final play, set in modern-day Seoul. What happens when the matriarch of a powerful family refuses to let go of the past? Director Simon Stone – acclaimed for his shattering reimagining of Yerma (Young Vic, 2016), Medea (International Theatre Amsterdam, 2021) and hit of the 2025 Festival, contemporary opera, Innocence – has become a master of transforming classic texts into blisteringly contemporary theatre. Now, he returns to Adelaide Festival with a new take on The Cherry Orchard, transplanting Chekhov’s Russian masterpiece into the high-stakes world of South Korean chaebols. This is no museum piece: it’s a fast-paced drama that ricochets between heartbreak and humour, asking whether a family on the brink will evolve or crumble. Cannes Best Actress winner Doyeon Jeon and Emmy-nominated Haesoo Park (Squid Game), lead the remarkable ensemble that brings this electric vision of The Cherry Orchard to life.