Emma Corrin and Kodi Smit-McPhee is set to star alongside Cate Blanchett in a highly anticipated adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s classic play The Seagull, slated to premiere at London’s Barbican Theatre in 2025.
Smit-McPhee, who gained recognition for his performance in Jane Campion’s The Power of the Dog and is currently seen alongside Angelina Jolie in Netflix’s upcoming film Maria. In The Seagull, Blanchett takes on the role of Irina Arkadina, a theatrical diva, while Smit-McPhee portrays her son Konstantin. This marks a family reunion for the duo, as they also appear together in Alfonso Cuarón’s seven-part Apple TV+ drama Disclaimer, set to premiere on 11th October.
Thomas Ostermeier, the production’s director, has cast Corrin as Nina, the object of Konstantin’s affection. However, Nina is drawn to Trigorin, Arkadina’s lover, portrayed by Tom Burke (Mad Max: Furiosa).
Preview performances of The Seagull will kick off on 26th February, 2025, with an official opening night scheduled for 6th March. The six-week run will conclude on 5th April.
The new adaptation of The Seagull is co-written by playwright Duncan MacMillan and Ostermeier, a towering figure in German theatre, known for his innovative stage productions.
Blanchett steps into the role of Arkadina, following in the footsteps of illustrious actresses such as Judi Dench, Vanessa Redgrave, and Helen Mirren, who have all portrayed this complex character. A two-time Academy Award winner, Blanchett was last seen on stage in London in 2019 for When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other at the National Theatre.
Younger actors have also gravitated towards the role of Nina, a path Corrin now follows. Interestingly, Blanchett previously played Nina in Neil Armfield’s 1997 production of The Seagull at Sydney’s Belvoir Street Theatre.
Corrin has quickly established herself in London’s theatre scene, with notable performances including Michael Grandage’s Orlando in 2022. Upcoming projects for the rising star include Robert Eggers’ gothic film Nosferatu and a new season of Black Mirror in 2025.
The Seagull is produced by Wessex Grove and Gavin Kalin Productions in collaboration with the Barbican. The production features set design by Magda Willi, costumes by Marg Horwell, sound design by Tom Gibbons, and casting by Jim Carnahan and Liz Fraser.
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