Dramaturgical Dip: Three Sisters

2026 Season

Cover art by Adolf Marks, St Petersburg 1901

Three Sisters is one of Anton Chekhov’s most celebrated plays, first performed in 1901. A common complaint from contemporary audiences accustomed to plot driven plays, movies, and TV shows is that nothing ever happens in Chekhov. This is because Chekhov creates theatrical poetry. A play like Three Sisters has its own geometry that uncovers its chain-of-events, its ideological orientation, its characters but does so beneath the surface by presenting us with the cycles of the seasons, and the continuous movement from day through night that defines our daily lives, not their exceptional moments.

The story takes place over three and a half years in a family home and follows the lives of four siblings after the death of their father, a Colonel. The youngest sister, Irina, is hopeful and idealistic, while Masha, the middle sister, struggles in an unhappy marriage. Olga, the eldest, has accepted a life of responsibility and duty, and their brother Andrei’s poor choices lead to financial ruin for the family.

At its heart, the play explores the siblings’ longing to escape their stifling small-town existence and return to the vibrant city they left years earlier. Packed with emotional intensity and dramatic events, including love affairs, a devastating fire, and a fatal duel, Three Sisters remains a profound exploration of family, unfulfilled dreams, and the passage of time. As their society rapidly changes around them Chekhov’s characters try to find the truth of the human heart. Its impact on modern theatre and enduring relevance make it one of the most significant works in theatrical history.