Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard” opens in the West End: Kristin Scott Thomas and Stephen Mangan at the Harold Pinter Theatre

LONDON, 2 October 2026 — One of the most eagerly awaited productions of London’s theatre autumn opens tomorrow evening: a new adaptation of Anton Chekhov’s “The Cherry Orchard” takes to the stage at the Harold Pinter Theatre, with Kristin Scott Thomas and Stephen Mangan in the leading roles. Previews begin on Saturday, 3 October, while the official press night is set for 13 October, as Brighton Journal writes, devoting a detailed overview to the production on the eve of its opening.

Behind the adaptation is Conor McPherson, author of “The Weir” and “Girl from the North Country,” while the direction has been entrusted to Ian Rickson — a significant double reunion: Rickson and Kristin Scott Thomas are reunited after “The Seagull,” for which the actress won the Olivier Award for her role as Arkadina, while Mangan returns to work with the director after 2018’s “The Birthday Party.” Rickson and McPherson have also worked together before, on “The Weir” (1997) and “Uncle Vanya” (2020), according to Playbill.

Kristin Scott Thomas, a BAFTA and Olivier Award winner, plays Lyubov Ranevskaya, the aristocrat who returns to the family estate after years abroad to find her home and her cherry orchard under threat. Stephen Mangan takes the role of Lopakhin. The cast also includes Ruby Bentall as Charlotta, Megan Cusack as Dunyasha, Karl Johnson as Firs, Noof Ousellam as Yasha, Nadia Parkes as Anya, Jack Riddiford as Trofimov, Vinette Robinson as Varya, Shubham Saraf as Yepikhodov and Peter Wight as Gaev. The creative team includes set designer Chloe Lamford, lighting designer Bruno Poet, composer Stephen Warbeck, movement director Shelley Maxwell and casting director Amy Ball; the production comes from Sonia Friedman Productions.

Performances will take place from Monday to Saturday at 19:30, with matinees on Wednesdays and Saturdays at 14:30. Accessible performances are also planned: with British Sign Language interpretation on 7 November, captioned on 14 November and audio-described on 31 October, all at 14:30. The production remains on the London stage until 9 January 2027.