Current Production

adapted by Helen Edmundson
from the novel by Leo Tolstoy
Directed by Nancy Meckler

LYRIC THEATRE HAMMERSMITH
SEPTEMBER 15TH - OCTOBER 10TH
BOX OFFICE (0181) 741 2311


Winner of several prestigious awards, including a Time Out award for
Outstanding Theatrical Event, Shared Experience Theatre's imaginative and
deeply affecting production distils Tolstoy's great novel into
extraordinary and gripping drama.

Russia 1877. Anna Karenina, a married woman falls passionately in love with
the devastatingly handsome Count Vronsky.  She deserts her husband and
child to live with her lover. But as society shuns her, fear and suspicion
of Vronsky's love and fidelity grow.  

As Anna's world disintegrates, Helen Edmundson's adaptation interweaves her
story with that of Levin, the fervent idealist, and his stormy relationship
with the beautiful young Kitty - a story of hope set against that of Anna's
despair.

Multiple award-winning : The show was first produced in 1992 and 1993 and
won several awards, including Outstanding Theatrical Event (Time Out Awards
1992) and Best Touring Show (Martini / TMA Theatre Awards 1993).

Teresa Banham plays Anna, the role for which she won the Manchester
Evening News and London Fringe Theatre awards for Best Actress)


Cast

               SIMEON ANDREWS   Stiva, Bailiff, Petritsky
                  KAREN ASCOE   Dolly, Countess Vronsky
                TERESA BANHAM   Anna
             KATHARINE BARKER   Princess Betsy, Agatha, 
                                Governess, Railway Widow
                   IAN GELDER   Karenin, Priest
                 RICHARD HOPE   Levin
                DEREK RIDDELL   Vronsky, Nikolai
                POOKY QUESNEL   Kitty, Seriozha

Peasants, muffled figures played by members of the company
 
                     Director   NANCY MECKLER
                       Design   LUCY WELLER
                        Music   PETER SALEM
                     Lighting   CHRIS DAVEY
             Company Movement   LIZ RANKEN
Production Associate Director   RICHARD HOPE

The action is set in Russia in the 1870's

The performance lasts approximately 2 hours and 50 minutes with one
interval.



ANNA KARENINA TOUR DATES

August 27th to September 6th 1998
Brisbane Festival, Brisbane, Australia

September 15th to October 10th 1998
Lyric Theatre Hammersmith, King Street, London W6
Box Office (0181) 741 2311

October 13th to October 17th 1998
Warwick Arts Centre, University of Warwick, Coventry CV4 7AL
Box Office (01203) 524524

October 20th to 31st 1998
Derby Playhouse, Theatre Walk, Eagle Centre, Derby DE1 2NF
Box Office (01332) 363275

November 11th to November 15th
Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York

November 19th to 29th
Buenos Aires, Argentina
(*venue tbc)


TOLSTOY'S ANNA KARENINA



by Helen Edmundson

The first time I read Anna Karenina, I became totally absorbed in Anna's
story.  The presence of the irascible Levin was an irritant.  I found
myself constantly turning the pages to see how long I would have to wait
before Anna's next appearance.

I was therefore surprised when I began talking to Nancy Meckler about
the novel, to discover that she had virtually the opposite response and
was very caught up in Levin's story - his love for Kitty and his search
for the meaning of life.

I read the book again. Levin began to appeal, but what really started
to occupy my mind was why Tolstoy had chosen to put these two stories
together? What is the relationship between Anna and Levin?

We searched for answers to this question and soon began to realise that
the adaptation must involve both characters.  Without Levin, Anna Karenina
is a love story, extraordinary and dark, but essentially a love story.
With Levin it becomes something great.

In choosing to tackle both strands, we were creating problems for ourselves.
Levin''s story is not, in itself, dramatic. ":What! You're going to dramatise
Levin?" people would cry when we revealed our intention. Of course, this just
encouraged us.

Two other things confirmed our thoughts: watching the films
of the novel, all of which deal solely with Anna and none of which get
beyond melodrama and cliche; then visiting Russia itself and finding that
Russians talk about Levin and Anna with equal familiarity and affection.
"Levin must be part of Anna",one man told us, "and Anna must be part of
Levin".