The Seagull

In May 2019, Kirill Pirogov’s production of Anton Chekhov’s The Seagull (Chayka) premiered at the Pyotr Fomenko Workshop Theatre, Moscow. My team and I had the honour of making its posters.

Our task was a poster that differs from what happens on stage, yet keeps the play’s mood: graphic and poetic at once.

On set, a silhouetted photographer faces an actress by a chair, against backlit gauze and a laser beam.

The flock of gulls behind the actresses is a real rear projection, cast onto strips of gauze. (Yes, every effect is in-camera.)

Galina Tyunina as Arkadina, in a tweed trouser suit, holds a long cigarette holder before strips of gauze. — Galina Tyunina as Arkadina

Maria Bolshova as Zarechnaya, in a pale embroidered gown, stands in a burst of light rays. — Maria Bolshova as Zarechnaya

Serafima Ogaryova as Masha sits on a suitcase in a long black dress. — Serafima Ogaryova as Masha

Galina Tyunina as Arkadina in a tweed suit, framed by rays of light and projected gulls. — Galina Tyunina as Arkadina

Maria Bolshova as Zarechnaya raises her arms in a sheer black gown against bright backlight. — Maria Bolshova as Zarechnaya

Serafima Ogaryova as Masha walks through rays of light and projected gulls in a black dress. — Serafima Ogaryova as Masha

Natalia Kurdyubova as Polina sits on a bentwood chair, lit from behind through strips of gauze. — Natalia Kurdyubova as Polina

An actress in a black cap sits on a chair in a burst of light and projected gulls.

For the portraits’ vintage, old-film feel, we built our own hybrid: an old-school 4×5 film camera combined with digital technology.

A 4×5 field camera on a tripod, seen from the balcony above the set.

The digital camera does not shoot the scene itself but its projection on the ground glass of a 4×5 field camera (in our case, a Sinar F3). So it captures exactly what the field camera sees.

The project was supported by Broncolor.

A giant Broncolor Para reflector and light stands on the set floor, seen from the balcony.

Production crew

Concept and art direction: Andrei Kovalev · Producers: Arina Ruzheynikova, Polina Efremenko · Technical director: Timur Ivanov · Assistant: Tatyana Gallyamova · BTS videographer: Elina Wexler

The empty stage: light rays and projected gulls on strips of gauze above a draped platform.

More of my work with theatres and actors →