Brighton Fringe 26! Chekhovian : Letters & Scenes

The Brighton Fringe is back on the calendar for 2026, and one of the theatre pieces taking place at The Lantern Theatre is Brighton Fringe 26! Chekhovian : Letters & Scenes. This production is set to run for three consecutive nights on the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd of May, with each performance beginning at 21:00. Created and directed by Sian Webber, the show takes a slightly different approach to the classics by weaving together scenes from Anton Chekhov’s four major plays with the intimate letters he wrote to the members of the Moscow Art Theatre. It’s a way of looking at the man behind the scripts, using his own words to provide context for the scenes many people already know.

The programme includes excerpts from The Seagull, Uncle Vanya, Three Sisters, and The Cherry Orchard. Rather than presenting these as isolated acts, the play uses Chekhov’s correspondence to show the personal and professional struggles he faced while these works were being developed. It’s described as an intimate evening that looks at how he captured the complexities of the human heart, focusing on themes like longing and the quiet moments of everyday life. For those who regularly visit the theatre at 77 St James's Street in Kemptown, the space suits this kind of focused, text-heavy performance.

With a standard price of £12.00, it’s a fairly accessible entry in the Fringe programme. The 9 PM start time means it fits into the later part of the evening, perhaps after a meal nearby. The production aims to reveal the joys and the difficulties that shaped Chekhov’s innovative work, making it a relevant choice for anyone interested in the history of the Moscow Art Theatre or the evolution of modern drama. It’s a straightforward opportunity to see highlights from his most significant plays while gaining a bit of insight into his personal life through the letters he left behind. The three-day window in early May provides a few chances to catch it during the opening weekend of the festival.