Chekov in Caribbean (From Stroud News and Journal)

Chekov in Caribbean

THREE Sisters, the Chekov classic, has been shaken up Caribbean style in an exciting reworking by award-winning writer Mustapha Matura and will be bringing a slice of sepia coloured sunshine to the Everyman in Cheltenham this week.

In this brand new version Matura has transformed the sister's turn of the century Russian life into a richly coloured Caribbean kaleidoscope at the beginning of World War II.

It's set in Colonial Trinidad in 1942. Three sisters live a privileged life in Port of Spain with their unworldly brother and his domineering, working class wife.

They occupy their lives with empty marriages and indiscreet liaisons. But their dream is to return home to England, their adopted country, and the spires of Cambridge where they spent their cosmopolitan youth.

Their ambitions of emigrating to Britain crumble, however, as the Second World War escalates and the Trinidadian army are called to serve king, country and empire.

Mustafa Matura is one of the most prolific and lyrical African-Caribbean playwrights He has won numerous awards including the George Devine Award and the Evening Standard Award for Most Promising Playwright.

Three Sisters is the fourth production from the highly acclaimed Eclipse Theatre.

Eclipse is an initiative to develop the national profile of Black middle scale theatre.

Previous critically acclaimed Eclipse productions are Moon On A Rainbow Shawl (2003), Mother Courage And Her Children (which appeared at the Everyman in 2004), and Little Sweet Thing (2005).

The show runs at The Everyman from Wednesday, March 22 to Saturday, March 25. Tickets, priced between £7.50 and £17, are available from the box office.