Review: Seagull: True Story at Marylebone Theatre

⭐⭐⭐ (Three Stars)

Seagull: True Story, transferring to the Marylebone Theatre after an Off-Broadway run, is a bold, experimental, and deeply personal work from director Alexander Molochnikov. Written by Eli Rarey, the play draws on Molochnikov’s own experiences leaving Russia for New York after speaking out against the invasion of Ukraine. The story follows Kon (Daniel Boyd), a Moscow-based director staging Chekhov’s The Seagull in February 2022, as Russia launches its assault on Ukraine. Facing censorship, political repression, and the arrests of dissenting voices, Kon leaves Russia for New York, where he begins a new chapter in his theatre-making, working with no budget and limited resources but with a clear vision for the production of The Seagull he wants to create.

Seagull: True Story is a timely, provocative exploration of censorship, artistic resistance, and the cost of speaking out against power. It effectively highlights the challenges faced by artists under Putin’s regime while drawing parallels to the political climate in the United States, broadening its resonance beyond Russia’s borders. The fourth-wall-breaking narration, primarily delivered by Andrey Burkovskiy in a style reminiscent of Cabaret’s Emcee, is an intriguing device. At times, Burkovskiy’s charismatic presence and humorous asides help contextualise Russian culture for non-Russian audiences, though the tonal shifts can feel uneven and jarring against the play’s more serious moments.

Musical elements, with Fedor Zhuravlev’s score and lyrics by Noize MC, bring depth and intensity, particularly in a stirring Act One sequence that captures the Moscow actors’ reaction to their country’s violence in Ukraine. However, inconsistent sound levels throughout the production occasionally detract from the emotional impact, with some moments being unnecessarily loud. Alexander Shishkin’s set design, featuring red velvet curtains, exposed light bulbs, and dressing tables at the front of the stage, alongside a versatile rehearsal space transformed with props and set dressings behind, is especially apt for such a meta production about creating theatre.

The company’s commitment is undeniable with the ensemble cast delivering passionate and energetic performances. The experimental style keeps the audience transfixed and engaged, though not every creative risk fully pays off. The play’s surreal tone occasionally blurs the line between reality and fantasy too much, as sequences intended to feel dreamlike, such as a shirtless Vladimir Putin dancing with a horse to techno music, lose impact when surrounded by already heightened and chaotic scenes, like a spontaneous dance party on a train.

Ultimately, Seagull: True Story is ambitious, thought-provoking theatre that dares to experiment. While it occasionally lacks cohesion, it remains a compelling exploration of artistic defiance under oppressive regimes, brought to life by an inventive creative team.

Seagull: True Story runs at Marylebone Theatre until 11th October 2025.

Photos by Mark Senior