HAVING never seen or read anything by Anton Chekhov, it was with some trepidation that I approached one of his most famous works, The Seagull.

With such a classic literary text, I was expecting a rather dry affair weighed down by its time – but what emerged in this performance at The Nuffield Theatre was something that had relevance, poignancy and still had me thinking long after the curtain came down.

Directed by Blanche McIntyre, play came to life, asking questions of the audience and of the role of theatre itself.

There were also unexpected moments of wit amid the dark overtones of the production.

A Nuffield Theatre Company and Headlong Theatre co-production, the play centres around four characters – respected writer Boris Trigorin, older actress Irina, Nina, an aspiring actress, and Irina’s son deep-thinking playwright Konstantin – and their relationships to each other.

There is unrequited love and idealism, but by the end characters are confronted by the harsh realities of their choices and life itself.

As the play got darker, you could not help but be drawn into their stories and the final act was particularly unsettling.

Particularly effective for me was the dynamic between mother and son, which was subtly played out by Alexander Cobb as Konstantin and Abigail Cruttenden as Irina.

Their scenes together in the second half were my highlight, where these two very different characters displayed a tenderness for each other, but also an ability to hurt each other.

Chekhov’s play was enhanced by the staging, which was superb throughout – for example the use of a large piece of wood as both a seesaw, table and decking on the lake at different points in the play was very effective.

This and the use of long panels and horizontal lines created a sense of a horizon – or an abyss.

It also successfully reflected the contrasting atmospheres of the first and final acts – the stillness of the moonlit lake and the dingy room near the railway line.

I also liked how the actors drew on panels at the back of the stage during the action, creating an evolving scenery,.

For those who want to give Chekhov a try, this is a good introduction, but for more seasoned theatre- goers it can perhaps offer a fresh perspective on a well-known piece.