Jubilee for Anton Chekhov - Hampstead 18 - 23 Jan

A star studded celebration of Anton Chekhov’s 150th Birthday will take place at Hampstead Theatre, a fringe venue in north London, from 18 – 23 January 2010.

The event will raise money to restore the White Dacha - the house in Yalta where Chekhov wrote Three Sisters and The Cherry Orchard, which has now lost its state funding and is in serious disrepair.

The event is hosted by Michael Pennington and leading Chekhov specialist Rosamund Bartlett, with guests including Eileen Atkins, Simon Russell Beale, William Boyd, Richard Eyre, William Fiennes, Michael Frayn, David Hare, David Horovitch, Steve McNeil, Miriam Margolyes, Rosamund Pike, Lynne Truss, Penelope Wilton.

Each evening a different show will take place. Writers will discuss their favourite Chekhov stories and actors will read them.

Monday 18 January, 7.30pm
CHEKHOV’S VAUDEVILLES
Michael Frayn,
With David Horovitch, Miriam Margolyes and Steve McNeil

Tuesday 19 January, 7.30pm
CHEKHOV'S WOMEN Lynne Truss on In the Cart and The Darling, With Rosamund Pike

Wednesday 20 January, 7.30pm
CHEKHOV’S MAJOR PLAYS Richard Eyre, With friends.

Thursday 21 January, 7.30pm
CHEKHOV'S DOCTORS
William Boyd on Ionych, With Eileen Atkins

Friday 22 January, 7.30pm
THE PERFECT SHORT STORY
David Hare on The Lady with the Little Dog, With Penelope Wilton.

Saturday 23 January, 3pm
ANTON CHEKHOV
An afternoon in the company of the elusive Russian playwright in the form of a narrative comprised of Chekhov’s own words, be they from a play, story or personal correspondence. Michael Pennington’s one man show premiered at the National Theatre in 1984 and has toured the world, been broadcast in two separate radio adaptations and been the subject of an Omnibus documentary for the BBC.

Saturday 23 January, 7.30pm
CHEKHOV AND UNREQUITED LOVE
William Fiennes on Verochka, With Simon Russell Beale

Tickets £ 20 - tel. 020 7722 9301