Onkel Wanja

What happens to our fading ideals and shattered illusions when confronted by an increasingly incomprehensible world? It is a sticky, hot summer in the country. Sonya and her Uncle Vanya have spent years of blood, sweat and tears managing the farm for Sonya’s father, the big city Art Professor Serebryakov. When the Professor retires to the countryside with his new wife Elena, the business suddenly grinds to a halt. Vanya has sacrificed all his strength to finance the Professor’s academic career. When seen close up, however, he turns out to be a bitter disappointment, as he wrangles lethargically with his own insignificance. And what about the equally hard-working Sonya? She is in love with Astrov, the local doctor, who now makes regular visits. But Astrov is finished with love and now prefers vodka. He can no longer bear the world’s suffering and is fighting a final, illusory battle against deforestation. What can they do now? Nobody knows any more. In his profound comedy from 1896, Anton Chekhov takes a merciless look at a society in decline, that has lost all its bearings. Conflicts over material existence meet midlife crises and dashed dreams. The Israeli director and actor Itay Tiran directs his debut production in Germany with UNCLE VANYA. He has recently directed productions at the Burgtheater in Vienna and the Gesher Theatre in Tel Aviv.