Kristin Scott Thomas returns to stage with Chekhov twist after ‘My Mother’s Wedding’

Kristin Scott Thomas is heading back to the stage in a daring new take on Anton Chekhov’s The Cherry Orchard, marking her first major theatre role since directing and co-starring in My Mother’s Wedding. The production, opening at London’s Donmar Warehouse in November, reimagines the Russian classic through a contemporary lens, featuring a fresh script by Benedict Andrews.

Scott Thomas will play Ranevskaya, the play’s tragic matriarch, whose return to a crumbling estate mirrors themes of loss and displacement. The new adaptation, according to Donmar's artistic director Tim Sheader, is both emotionally urgent and politically charged. It’s set to explore ideas of identity and legacy, drawing subtle parallels to the actress’s recent work behind the camera.

Earlier this year, My Mother’s Wedding premiered at the Venice Film Festival, where Scott Thomas made her directorial debut. The semi-autobiographical film starred Scarlett Johansson and reflected on complex family dynamics, a thematic thread she continues to explore onstage with The Cherry Orchard.

Fans and critics alike are eager to see how Scott Thomas reinvents the iconic role. She previously starred in Chekhov’s Three Sisters and The Seagull, establishing her as a master interpreter of the playwright’s emotionally layered women.

Online, theatre circles and Chekhov fans have expressed excitement, with one post reading: ‘Chekhov with Kristin Scott Thomas is all the serotonin I need.’ Ticket demand has already surged since the announcement, and industry insiders expect a complete sell-out before previews begin.

For Scott Thomas, this return to theatre not only affirms her continued range as a performer but also places her at the centre of a renewed conversation around reinventing the classics.