Cate Blanchett Returns to London Stage in Chekhov’s ‘The Seagull’

Oscar-winning actor Cate Blanchett is set to make a grand return to the London stage, portraying the character Arkadina in Anton Chekhov’s classic play “The Seagull,” reports BBC News.

The play will run for six weeks at London’s Barbican Theatre, starting in February 2025. Blanchett will be joined by Tom Burke, who is known for his roles in the BBC series “Strike” and “Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga.” The duo recently collaborated in Steven Soderbergh’s upcoming film “Black Bag.”

In “The Seagull,” Blanchett’s Arkadina is a celebrated actress whose family weekend at their country estate turns tumultuous as her son wrestles with living in her shadow. Tom Burke plays Trigorin, Arkadina’s lover and a renowned writer, who finds himself the object of affection from a budding young actress.

Director Thomas Ostermeier expressed his excitement to BBC News, stating, “I have known and admired Cate for many years, and to see her on stage is always a privilege. I am thrilled that we will make our first artistic collaboration with this production of ‘The Seagull’ at the Barbican, and that London will experience this once-in-a-generation actress in one of the greatest theatrical roles of Arkadina.”

Ostermeier added, “I’m also very pleased to be forging a new artistic relationship with Tom Burke, who will play the role of Trigorin.”

Wessex Grove, the team responsible for Ostermeier’s recent production of “An Enemy of the People” starring Matt Smith, will produce this staging of “The Seagull.”

This performance follows another London staging of “The Seagull” from two years ago, which featured Emilia Clarke, known for her role in “Game of Thrones.”

Blanchett’s last appearance at the Barbican was in the 2012 production “Big and Small (Gross und Klein).” Her most recent London stage role was in 2019’s “When We Have Sufficiently Tortured Each Other” at the National Theatre, just before the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Throughout her illustrious career, Blanchett has garnered eight Oscar nominations, winning two for her performances in “The Aviator” and “Blue Jasmine.”

Source: BBC News, Getty Images